Google This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world's books discoverable online. It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover. Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the publisher to a library and finally to you. Usage guidelines Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying. We also ask that you: + Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for personal, non-commercial purposes. + Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help. + Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it. + Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe. About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at |http: //books .google .com/I fiL r:^oi'6.h./o 1g^%^%«?V%«^^i\oxi^Headpiece 146 ILL US TR A TI O NS Page " Those fellows seem to be looking for trouble'** 150 Uttering cries of terror and dismay, the three Turks took to their heels 158 Rob was miserable and unhappy, and remained brooding over his cruel fate — Tailpiece 159 The Tatars arrived swiftly and noiselessly — Ueadp iece 1 60 The Turk rose slowly into the air, with Rob cling- ing to him with desperate tenacity 176 Without more ado Rob mounted into the air, leaving the Turk staring after him — Tailpiece 181 Coming toward him was an immense bird — Headp iece 186 With one last scream the creature tumbled down- ward to join its fellow — Tailpiece 191 During the next few hours Rob suffered from a severe attack of homesickness — Headpiece 192 The disappointment of the sailors was something awful to witness 196 As they slowly mounted into the sky the sailor gave a squeal of terror — Tailpiece 205 Rob mounted skyward, to the unbounded amaze- ment of the fishermen, who stared after him — Jleadpicce 2p6 ILL US TR A TI O NS Rob hovered over the great tower cf the Lick Observatory until he attracted the excited gaze of its inhabitants — Tailpiece Finding himself upon the lake front, Rob hunted up a vacant bench and sat down to rest — Headf iece As he started downward he saw the old gentleman looking at him with a half-frightened, half- curious expression — Tailpiece At precisely ten o'clock Rob reached the front door of his own house — Headpiece Rob boldly ascended the stairs, entered the work- shop and closed and locked the door — Tail- piece The Demon sank into a chair nerveless and limp, but still staring fearfully at the boy — Head- piece A flash of white light half-stunned and blinded Rob. When he recovered himself the De- mon had disappeared — Tailpiece Page 213 214 224 22: 229 230 245 WHO KNOWS? These things are quite improbable, to be sure; but are they impossible? Our big world rolls over as smoothly as It did centuries ago, without a squeak to show it needs oiling after all these j^ears of revolution. But times change because men change, and because civilization, like John Brown's soul, goes ever marching on. The impossibilities of 3'esterday become the accepted facts of to-day. Here is a fairy tale founded upon the wonders of electricity and written for chil- dren of this generation. Yet when my readers shall have become men and women my story may not seem to their children like a fairy tale at all. Perhaps one, perhaps two— perhaps sev- eral of the Demon's devices will be, by that time, in popular use. Who knows.? "/« wonder all philosophy began; in wonder it all ends ; and admiration fills up the interspace. But the first wonder is the offspring of ignorance : the last is the parent of adoration' — Coleridge. THE MASTER KEY CHAPTER ONE ROB'S WORKSHOP WIIENRobbecameinterested inelec- tricity his clear-headed father con- sidered the boy's fancy to be instructive as well as amusing; so he heartily encouraged his son, and Rob never lacked batteries, motors or suppHes of any sort that his ex- periments might require. He fitted up the little back room in the attic as his workshop, and from thence a net-work of wires soon ran throughout the house. Not onlj' had every outside door its I THE MASTER KEl electric bell, but every window was fitted with a burglar alarm; moreover no one could cross the threshold of any interior room with- out registering the fact in Rob's workshop. The gas was lighted by an electric fob; a chime, connected with an erratic clock in the boy's room, woke the servants at all hours of the night and caused the cook to give warning; a bell rang whenever the postman dropped a letter into the box; there were bells, bells, bells everywhere, ringing at the right time, the wrong time and all the time. And there were telephones in the different rooms, too, through which Rob could call up the different members of the family just when they did not wish to be disturbed. His mother and sisters soon came to vote the boy's scientific craze a nuisance; but his father was delighted with these evi- dences of Rob's skill as an electrician, and insisted that he be allowed perfect freedom in carrying out his ideas. '' Electricity," said the old gentleman, ROB'S WORKSHOP sagely, *' is destined to become tlie motive power of the world. The future advance of civilization will be along electrical lines. Our boy may become a great inventor and astonish the world with his wonderful cre- ations." '^And in the meantime," said the mother, despairingly, '' we shall all be electrocuted, or the house burned down by crossed wires, or we shall be blown into eternity by an explosion of chemicals!" ^' Nonsense 1" ejaculated the proud father. '^ Rob's storage batteries are not powerful enough to electrocute one or set the house on fire. Do give the boy a chance, Belinda." ^^And his pranks are so humiliating," continued the lady. '^ When the minister called yesterday and rang the bell a big card appeared on the front door on which was printed the words : 'Busy; Call Again.' Fortunately Helen saw him and let him in, but when I reproved Robert for the act he THE MASTER KEl said he was just trying the sign to see if it would work." '^Exactly! The boy is an inventor al- ready. I shall have one of those cards at- tached to the door of my private office at once. I tell you, Belinda, our son will be a great man one of these days," said Mr. Joslyn, walking up and down with pom- pous strides and almost bursting with the pride he took in his young hopeful. Mrs. Joslyn sighed. She knew remon- strance was useless so long as her husband encouraged the boy, and that she would be wise to bear her cross with fortitude. Rob also knew his mother's protests would be of no avail; so he continued to revel in electrical processes of all sorts, using the house as an experimental station to test the powers of his productions. It was in his own room, however, — his '' workshop " — that he especially delighted. For not only was it the center of all his numerous 'Mines" throughout the house, ROB'S WORKS nop but he had rigged up therein a wonderful array of devices for his own amusement. A trolley-car moved around a circular track and stopped regularly at all stations; an en- gine and train of cars moved jerkily up and down a steep grade and through a tunnel; a windmill was busily pumping water from the dishpan into the copper skillet; a saw- mill was in full operation and a host of me- chanical blacksmiths, scissors-grinders, car- penters, wood-choppers and millers were connected with a motor which kept them w^orking away at their trades in awkward but persevering fashion. The room was crossed and recrossed with wires. They crept up the walls, lined the floor, made a grille of the ceiling and would catch an unwary visitor under the chin or above the ankle just when he least expected it. Yet visitors were forbidden in so crowded a room, and even his father declined to go farther than the doorway. As for Rob, he thought he knew all about the wires, and 5 THE MA S TER KE 7 what each one was fur; but they puzzled even him, at times, and he was often per- plexed to know how to utiHze them all. One day when he had locked himself in to avoid interruption while he planned the electrical illumination of a gorgeous paste- board palace, he really became confused over the network of wires. lie had a ^ 'switch- board," to be sure, where he could make and break connections as he chose; but the wires had somehow become mixed, and he could not tell what combinations to use to throw the power on to his miniature electric lights. So he experimented in a rather haphaz- ard fashion, connecting this and that wire blindly and by guesswork, in the hope that he would strike the right combination. Then he thought the combination might be right and there was a lack of power; so he added other lines of wire to his connections, and still others, until he had employed almost every wire in the room. 6 A quick fljhh of light ;i I? OB'S WORKSHOP Yet it would not work; and after pausing a moment to try to think what was wrong he went at it again, putting this and that line into connection, adding another here and another there, until suddenly, as he made a last change, a quick flash of light almost blinded him, and the switch-board crackled ominously, as if struggling to carry a powerful current. Rob covered his face at the flash, but finding himself unhurt he took away his hands and with blinking eyes attempted to look at a wonderful radiance which seemed to fill the room, making it many times brighter than the brightest day. Although at first completely dazzled, he peered before him until he discovered that the light was concentrated near one spot, from which all the glorious rays seemed to scintillate. He closed his eyes a moment to rest them; then re-opening them and shading them somewhat with his hands, he made out the THE MASTER KEl form of a curious Being standing with maj- esty and composure in the center of the magnificent radiance and looking down upon himl CHAPTER TWO THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITY ROB was a courageous boy, but a thrill of fear passed over him in spite of his bravest endeavor as he gazed upon the wondrous apparition that confronted him. For several moments he sat as if turned to stone, so motionless was he; but his eyes were nevertheless fastened upon the Being and devouring every detail of his appear- ance. And how strange an appearance he pre- sented I His jacket was a wavering mass of white light, edged with braid of red flames that 9 TIIH MASTER KEY shot little toiiirucs in all directions. The buttons bL'izctl in golden tire. His trousers had a bluish, incandescent color, with glowing stripes of crimson braid. His vest was gorgeous with all the colors of the rain- bow blended into a flashing, resplendent mass. In feature he was most majestic, and his eyes held the soft but penetrating bril- liance of electric lights. It was hard to meet the gaze of those searching eyes, but Rob did it, and at once the splendid apparition bowed and said in a low, clear voice: '' I am here." '' I know that," answered the boy, trem- bling, '' but why are you here ?" '' Because you have touched the Master Key of Electricity, and I must obey the laws of nature that compel me to respond to your summons." '' I — I didn't know I touched the Master Key," faltered the boy. '' I understand that. You did it uncon- 10 THE DEMON OF ELECTRIC f TV scioush/. No one in the world has ever done it before, for Nature has hitherto kept the secret safe locked within her bosom." Rob took time to wonder at this state- ment. " Then who are you?" he inquired, at length. " The Demon of Electricity," was the solemn answer. ^'Good gracious!" exclaimed Rob, *'a demon I" " Certainly. I am, in truth, the Slave of the Master Key, and am forced to obey the commands of any one who is wise and brave enough — or, as in your own case, fortunate and fool-hardy enough — to touch it." " I — I've never guessed there was such a thing as a Master Key, or — or a Demon of Electricity, and — and I'm awfully sorry I — I called you up !" stammered the boy, abashed by the imposing appearance of his companion. II THE MASTER KEY The Demon actually smiled at this speech, — a smile that was almost reassuring. '^ I am not sorry," he said, in kindlier tone, ^^ for it is not much pleasure waiting century after century for some one to com- mand my services. I have often thought my existence uncalled for, since you Earth people are so stupid and ignorant that you seem unlikely ever to master the secret of electrical power." ^^ Oh, we have some great masters among usi" cried Rob, rather nettled at this state- ment. *^Now, there's Edison — " ^'Edison!" exclaimed the Demon, with a faint sneer; *^ what does he know?" '^Lots of things," declared the boy. ''He's invented no end of wonderful electrical things . ' ' ''You are wrong to call them wonder- ful," replied the Demon, lightly. "He really knows little more than yourself about the laws that control electricity. His inven- tions are trifling things in comparison with 12 THE DEMON OF ELECTRIC IIT the really wonderful results to be obtained by one who would actually know how to direct the electric powers instead of groping blindly after insignificant effects. Why, I've stood for months by Edison's elbow, hoping and longing for him to touch the Master Key; but I can see plainly he will never accomplish it." ^^Then there's Tesla," said the boy. The Demon laughed. ^' There is Tesla, to be sure," he said. ^^But what of him?" "Why, he's discovered a powerful light," the Demon gave an amused chuckle, " and he's in communication with the people in Mars." "What people?" "Why, the people who live there." "There are none." This quiet statement almost took Rob's breath away, and caused him to stare hard at his visitor. " It's generally thought," he resumed, in 13 THE MA S TER KE T an annoyed tone, ^'that Mars has inhabi- tants who are far in advance of ourselves in civilization. Many scientific men think the people of Mars have been trying to signal us for years, only we don't understand their signals. And great novelists have written about the Martians and their wonderful civ- ilization, and — " '^ And they all know as much about that little planet as you do yourself," interrupted the Demon, impatiently. '^The trouble with you Earth people is that you delight in guessing about what you can not know. Now I happen to know all about Mars, be- cause I can traverse all space and have had ample leisure to investigate the different planets. Mars is not peopled at all, nor is any other of the planets you recognize in the heavens. Some contain low orders of beasts, to be sure, but Earth alone has an intelligent, thinking, reasoning population, and your scientists and novelists would do better trying to comprehend their own planet 14 THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITl than in groping through space to unravel the mysteries of barren and unimportant worlds." Rob listened to this with surprise and dis- appointment; but he reflected that the Demon ought to know what he was talking about, so he did not venture to contradict him. *'It is really astonishing," continued the Apparition, *^how little you people have learned about electricity. It is an Earth element that has existed since the Earth itself was formed, and if you but under- stood its proper use humanity would be marvelously benefited in many ways." ^' We are, already," protested Rob; '' our discoveries in electricity have enabled us to live much more conveniently." ^^ Then imagine your condition were you able fully to control this great element," re- plied the other, gravely. '' The weaknesses and privations of mankind would be con- verted into power and luxury," IS THE MASTER KET ii That's true, Mr. — Mr. — Demon," said the boy. ^' Excuse me if I don't get your name right, but I understood you to say you ftre a demon." '' Certainly. The Demon of Electricity." '' But electricity is a good thing, you know, and — and — " ^^ Well ?" ^' I've always understood that demons were bad things," added Rob, boldly. *^ Not necessarily," returned his visitor. '^ If you will take the trouble to consult your dictionary, you will find that demons may be either good or bad, like any other class of beings. Originally all demons were good, yet of late years people have come to consider all demons evil. I do not know why. Should you read Hesiod you will find he says: * Soon was a world of holy demons made, Aerial spirits, by great Jove designed To be on earth the guardians of mankind.' i> i6 THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITY " But Jove was himself a myth," objected Rob, who had been studying mythologj'. The Demon shrugged his shoulders. "Then take the words of Mr. Shake- speare, to whom you all defer," he replied. "Do you not remember that he says: 'Thy demon (that's thy spirit which keeps thee) is Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable.' " " Oh, if Shakespeare says it, that's all right," answered the boy. "But it seems you're more like a genius, for you answer the summons of the Master Key of Elec- tricity in the same way Aladdin's genius answered the rubbing of the lamp." " To be sure. A demon is also a genius; and a genius is a demon," said the Being. " What matters a name? I am here to do your bidding." CHAPTER THREE THE THREE GIFTS FAMILIARITY with any great thing removes our awe of it. The great gen- eral is only terrible to the enemy; the great poet is frequently scolded by his wife; the children of the great statesman clamber about his knees with perfect trust and im- punity; the great actor who is called. before the curtain by admiring audiences is often waylaid at the stage door by his creditors. So Rob, having conversed for a time with the glorious Demon of Electricity, began to regard him with more composure and less awe, as his eyes grew more and more ac^ i8 THE THREE GIETS customed to the splendor that at first had well-nigh blinded them. When the Demon announced himself ready to do the boy's bidding, he frankly replied: '^ I am no skilled electrician, as you very well know. My calling you here was an accident. So I don't know how to com- mand you, nor what to ask you to do." '' But I must not take advantage of your ignorance," answered the Demon. ''Also, I am quite anxious to utilize this opportu- nity to show the world what a powerful ele- ment electricity really is. So permit me to inform you that, having struck the Mas- ter Key, you are at liberty to demand from me three gifts each week for three succes- sive weeks. These gifts, provided they are within the scope of electricity, I will grant." Rob shook his head regretfully. '' If I were a great electrician I should know what to ask," he said. "But I am too 19 THE MASTER KET m ignorant to take advantage of your kind offer." '' Then," replied the Demon, " I will myself suggest the gifts, and they will be of such a character that the Earth people will learn the possibilities that lie before them and be encouraged to work more intelli- gently and to persevere in mastering those natural and simple laws which control elec- tricity. For one of the greatest errors they now labor under is that electricity is com- plicated and hard to understand. It is really the simplest Earth element, lying within easy reach of any one who stretches out his hand to grasp and control its pow- ers." Rob yawned, for he thought the De- mon's speeches were growing rather tire- some. Perhaps the genius noticed this rudeness, for he continued: " I regret, of course, that you are a boy instead of a grown man, for it will appear singular to your friends that so thoughtless a 20 THE THREE GIETS youth should seemingly have mastered the secrets that have baffled your most learned scientists. But that can not be helped, and presently you will become, through my aid, the most powerful and wonderful personage in all the world." ''Thank you," said Rob, meekly. ''It'll be no end of fun." "Fun!" echoed the Demon, scornfully. "But never mind; I must use the material Fate has provided for me, and make the best of it." "What will you give me first?" asked the boy, eagerly. "That requires some thought," returned the Demon, and paused for several mo- ments, while Rob feasted his eyes upon the gorgeous rays of color that flashed and vi- brated in every direction and surrounded the figure of his visitor with an intense glow that resembled a halo. Then the Demon raised his head and said: 21 THE MASTER KEl "The thing nioGt necessan' to man is food to nourish his body. lie passes a consider- able part of his life in the struggle to pro- cure food, to prepare it properly, and in the act of eating. Thfs is not right. Your body can not be very valuable to you if all your time is required to feed it. I shall, therefore, present 3^ou, as my first gift, this box of tablets. Within each tablet are stored certain elements of electricity which are capable of nourishing a human body for a full day. All you need do is to toss one into your mouth each day and swallow it. It will nourish you, satisfy your hunger and build up your health and strength. The ordinary food of mankind is more or less injurious; this is entirely beneficial. More- over, you may carry enough tablets in your pocket to last for months." Here he presented Rob the silver box of tablets, and the boy, somewhat nervously, thanked him for the gift. The next requirement of man," contin- 22 ii' THE THREE GIFTS ued the Demon, ^^is defense from his ene- mies. I notice with sorrow that men fre- quently have wars and kill one another. Also, even in civilized communities, man is in constant danger from highwaymen, cranks and policemen. To defend him- self he uses heavy and dangerous guns, with which to destroy his enemies. This is wrong. lie has no right to take away what he can not bestow; to destroy what he can not create. To kill a fellow-creat- ure is a horrid crime, even if done In self- defense. Therefore, my second gift to you is this little tube. You may carry it within your pocket. Whenever an enemy threat- ens you, be it man or beast, simply point the tube and press this button in the handle. An electric current will instantly be directed upon your foe, rendering him wholly un- conscious for the period of one hour. Dur- ing that time you will have opportunity to escape. As for your enemy, after regain- ing consciousness he will suffer no incon- 23 THE MASTER KEY venience from the encounter beyond a slight headache." * 'That's fine!" said Rob, as he took the tube. It was scarcely six inches long, and hollow at one end. ''The busy lives of men," proceeded the Demon, "require them to move about and travel in all directions. Yet to assist them there are only such crude and awkward ma- chines as electric trolleys, cable cars, steam railways and automobiles. These crawl slowly over the uneven surface of the earth and frequently get out of order. It has grieved me that men have not yet discovered what even the birds know: that the atmosphere offers them swift and easy means of travel- ing from one part of the earth's surface to another." "Some people have tried to build air- ships," remarked Rob. "So they have; great, unwieldy machines which offer so much resistance to the air that they are quite useless. A big machine 24 THE THREE GIFTS is not needed to carry one through the air. There are forces in nature which may be readily used for such purpose. Tell me, what holds you to the Earth, and makes a stone fall to the ground?" ^^ Attraction of gravitation," said Rob, promptly. ''Exactly. That is one force I refer to," said the Demon. ''The force of repulsion, which is little known, but just as powerful, is another that mankind may direct. Then there are the Polar electric forces, attracting objects toward the north or south poles. You have guessed something of this by the use of the compass, or electric needle. Op- posed to these is centrifugal electric force, drawing objects from east to west, or in the opposite direction. This force is created by the whirl of the earth upon its axis, and is easily utilized, although your scientific men have as yet paid little attention to it. *^ These forces, operating in all directions, absolute and immutable, are at the disposal 25 rilE MASTER KEl of mankind. They will earn- aou throuerh */ the atmosphere wherever and whenever you choose. That is, if you know how to con- trol them. Now, here is a machine I have myself perfected." The Demon drew from his pocket some- thing that resembled an open-faced watch, having a narrow, flexible band attached to it. ^'When you wish to travel," said he, ^^ attach this little machine to your left wrist by means of the band. It is very light and will not be in your way. On this dial are points marked ' up ' and ' down ' as well as a perfect compass. When you desire to rise into the air set the indicator to the word ^up,' using a finger of your right hand to turn it. When you have risen as high as you wish, set the indicator to the point of the compass you want to follow and you will be carried by the proper electric force in that direction. To descend, set the in- dicator to the word 'down.' Do you un- derstand ? ' ' 26 THE THREE GIFTS '^ Perfectly! " cried Rob, taking the ma- chine from the Demon with unfeigned de- light. '' This is really wonderful, and Pm awfully obliged to you!" ^'Don't mention it," returned the Demon, dryly. ^' These three gifts you may amuse yourself with for the next week. It seems hard to entrust such great scientific discover- ies to the discretion of a mere boy; but they are quite harmless, so if you exercise proper care you can not get into trouble through their possession. And who knows what benefits to humanity may result? One week from to-day, at this hour, I will again appear to you, at which time you shall re- ceive the second series of electrical gifts." ^^Pm not sure," said Rob, '^that I shall be able again to make the connections that will strike the Master Key." ^^ Probably not," answered the Demon. ^^ Could 3^ou accomplish that, you might command my sei*vices forever. But, hav- ing once succeeded, you are entitled to the 2^ THE MASTER KEY nine gifts — three each week for three weeks — so you have no need to call me to do my dutj'. I shall appear of my own accord." "Thank you," murmured the boy. The Demon bowed and spread his hands in the form of a semi-circle. An instant later there was a blinding flash, and when Rob recovered from it and opened his e}-es the Demon of Electricity had disappeared. ^^rTTT^ CHAPTER FOUR TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS THERE is little doubt that had this strange experience befallen a grown man he would have been stricken with a fit of trembling or a sense of apprehension, or even fear, at the thought of having faced the terrible Demon of Electricity, of having struck the Master Key of the world's great- est natural forces, and finding himself pos- sessed of three such wonderful and useful gifts. But a boy takes everything as a matter of course. As the tree of knowl- edge sprouts and expands within him, shoot- ing out leaf after leaf of practical experience, 29 THE MASTER KEY the succession of surprises dulls his faculty of wonderment. It takes a great deal to startle a boy. Rob was full of delight at his unexpected good fortune; but he did not stop to con- sider that there was anything remarkably queer or uncanny in the manner in which it had come to him. His chief sensation was one of pride. He would now be able to surprise those who had made fun of his elec- trical craze and force them to respect his marvelous powers. He decided to say noth- ing about the Demon or the accidental strik- ing of the Master Key. In exhibiting to his friends the electrical devices he had acquired it would be '^no end of fun" to mark their amazement and leave them to guess how he performed his feats. So he put his treasures into his pocket, locked his workshop and went downstairs to his room to prepare for dinner. While brushing his hair he remembered it was no longer necessary for him to eat 30 TESTING THE LYSTRUMEXTS ordinary food. He was feeling quite hun- gry at that moment, for he had a boy's rav- enous appetite; but, taking the silver box from his pocket, he swallowed a tablet and at once felt his hunger as fully satisfied as if he had partaken of a hearty meal, while at the same time he experienced an exhilarat- ing glow throughout his body and a clear- ness of brain and gaiety of spirits which filled him with intense gratification. Still, he entered the dining-room when the bell rang and found his father and mother and sisters already assembled there. ^' Where have you been all day, Robert?" inquired his mother. ^^No need to ask," said Mr. Joslyn,with a laugh. ^^ Fussing over electricity, I'll bet a cookie!" ^^I do wish," said the mother, fretfully, ^^that he would get over that mania. It un- fits him for anything else." ^^ Precisely," returned her husband, dish- ing the soup; '^but it fits him for a great 31 THE MASTER KET career when he becomes a man. Why shouldn't he spend his summer vacation in pursuit of useful knowledge instead of romp- ing around like ordinary boys?" '^ No soup, thank you," said Rob. ^^ What I" exclaimed his father, looking at him in surprise, '^ it's your favorite soup." '^ I know," said Rol5, quietly, ^^but I don't want any." '^Are you ill, Robert?" asked his mother. ^' Never felt better in my life," answered Rob, truthfully. Yet Mrs. Joslyn looked worried, and when Rob refused the roast, she was really shocked. '' Let me feel your pulse, my poor boy!" she commanded, and wondered to find it so regular. In fact, Rob's action surprised them all. He sat calmly throughout the meal, eat- ing nothing, but apparently in good health 32 TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS and spirits^ while even his sisters regarded him with troubled countenances. ^' He's worked too hard, I guess," said Mr. Joslyn, shaking -his head sadly. ^^Oh, no; I haven't," protested Rob; ^^ but I've decided not to eat anything, hereafter. It's a bad habit, and does more harm than good." '^ Wait till breakfast," said sister Helen, with a laugh; ''you'll be hungry enough by that time." However, the boy had no desire for food at breakfast time, either, as the tablet suf- ficed for an entire day. So he renewed the anxiety of the family by refusing to join them at the table. '' If this goes on," Mr. Joslyn said to his son, when breakfast was finished, '' I shall be obliged to send you away for your health." '' I think of making a trip this morning," said Rob, carelessly. ^' Where to?" 33 THE MASTER KEY , '' Oh, I may go to Boston, or take a run - over to Cuba or Jamaica," replied the boy. '' But you can not go so far by yourself," declared his father; ^'and there is no one to go with you, just now. Nor can I spare the money at present for so expensive a trip." '' Oh, it won't cost anything," replied Rob, with a smile. Mr. Joslyn looked upon him gravely and sighed. Mrs. Joslyn bent over her son with tears in her eyes and said: ^^ This electrical nonsense has affected your mind, dear. You must promise me to keep away from that horrid workshop for a time." '' I won't enter it for a week," he an- swered. '^ But you needn't worry about me. I haven't been experimenting with electricity all this time for nothing, I can tell you. As for my health, I'm as well and strong as anj^ boy need be, and there's nothing wrong with my head, either. Com- 34 TESTrNG THE INSTRVMEXTS mon folks always think great men are crazy, but Edison and Tesla and I don'^t pay any attention to that. We've got our discover- ies to look after. Now, as I said, I'm go- ing for a little trip in the interests of sci- ence. I may be back to-night, or I maybe gone several days. Anyhow, I'll be back in a week, and you mustn't worry about me a single minute." '^ How are you going?" inquired his father, in the gentle, soothing tone persons use in addressing maniacs. '' Through the air," said Rob. His father groaned. ^^ Where's your balloon?" inquired sis- ter Mabel, sarcastically. ^' I don't need a balloon," returned the boy. '^ That's a clumsy way of traveling, at best. I shall go by electric propulsion." '' Good gracious!" cried Mr. Joslyn, and the mother murmured: ^' My poor boy! my poor boy!" ''As you are my nearest relatives," con- 35 THE MASTER KEY tinued Rob, not noticing these exclamations, '^ I will allow )'ou to come into the back yard and see me start. You will then under- stand something of my electrical powers." They followed him at once, although with unbelieving faces, and on the way Rob clasped the little machine to his left wrist, so that his coat sleeve nearly hid it. When they reached the lawn at the back of the house Rob kissed them all good-by, much to his sisters' amusement, and turned the indicator of the little instrument to the word ''up, Immediately he began to rise into the air. ''Don't worry about me I" he called down to them. " Good-by!" Mrs. Joslyn, with a scream of terror, hid her face in her hands. " He'll break his neck !" cried the as- tounded father, tipping back his head to look after his departing son. 36 ?? TESTING THE IXSTRUMEXTS ''Come back! Come back!" shouted the girls to the soaring adventurer. '' I will — some day !" was the far-away answer. Having risen high enough to pass over the tallest tree or steeple, Rob put the indi- cator to the east of the compass-dial and at once began moving rapidly in that direction. The sensation was delightful. He rode as gently as a feather floats, without any exertion at all on his own part; jet he moved so swiftly that he easily distanced a railway train that was speeding in the same direction. ''This is great!" reflected the youth. " Here I am, traveling in fine stj^le, with- out a penny to pay any one! And I've enough food to last me a month in my coat pocket. This electricity is the proper stuff, after all! And the Demon's a trump, and no mistake. Whee-ee! How small every- thing looks down below there. The people are bugs, and the houses are soap-boxes, 37 THE MASTER KET and the trees are like clumps of grass. I seem to be passing over a town. Guess I'll drop down a bit, and take in the sights." lie pointed the indicator to the word ^^down," and at once began dropping through the air. He experienced the sensa- tion one feels while descending in an eleva- tor. When he reached a point just above the town he put the indicator to the zero mark and remained stationary, while he examined the place. But there was nothing to interest him, particularly; so after a brief survey he once more ascended and contin- ued his journey toward the east. At about two o'clock in the aifternoon he reached the city of Boston, and alighting unobserved in a quiet street he walked around for several hours enjoying the sights and wondering what people would think of him if they but knew his remarkable pow- ers. But as he looked just like any other boy no one noticed him in any way. It was nearly evening, and Rob had wan- 38 TESTING THE IXSTRUMEXTS dered down by the wharves to look at the shipping, when his attention was called to an ugly looking bull dog, which ran toward Iiim and began barking ferociously. ''Get out!" said the boy, carelessly, and made a kick at the brute. The dog uttered a fierce growl and sprang upon him with bared teeth and flashing red eyes. Instantly Rob drew the electric tube from his pocket, pointed it at the dog and pressed the button. Almost at the same mo- ment the dog gave a yelp, rolled over once or twice and lay still. ''I guess that'll settle him," laughed the boy; but just then he heard an angry shout, and looking around saw a policeman run- ning toward him. ''Kill me dog, will ye — eh?" yelled the officer; "well, I'll just run ye in for that same, an' ye'll spend the night in the lock- upl" And on he came, with drawn club in one hand and a big revolver in the other. "You'll have to catch me first," said 39 THE MASTER KEY Rob, still laughing, and to the amazement of the policeman he began rising straight into the air. ^'Come down here I Come down, or I'll shoot!" shouted the fellow, flourishing his revolver. Rob was afraid he would; so, to avoid ac- cidents, he pointed the tube at him and pressed the button. The red-whiskered po- liceman keeled over quite gracefully and fell across the body of the dog, while Rob con- tinued to mount upward until he was out of sight of those in the streets. ''That was a narrow escape," he thought, breathing more freely. ''I hated to para- lyze that policeman, but he might have sent a bullet after me. Anyhow, he'll be all right again in an hour, so I needn't worry." It was beginning to grow dark, and he wondered what he should do next. Had he possessed any money he would have de- scended to the town and taken a bed at a hotel, but he had left home without a single 40 TESTING THE IXSTRIWEXTS penny. Fortunately the nights were warm at this season, so he determined to travel all night, that he might reach by morning some place he had never before visited. Cuba had always interested him, and he judged it ought to lie in a southeasterly direction from Boston. So he set the in- dicator to that point and began gliding swiftly toward the southeast. He now remembered that it was twentv- four hours since he had eaten the first elec- trical tablet. As he rodft through the air he consumed another. All hunger at once left him, while he felt the same invigorating sensations as before. After a time the moon came out, and Rob amused himself gazing at the countless stars in the sky and wondering if the Demon was right when he said the world was the most important of all the planets. But presently he grew sleepy, and before he realized what was happening he had fallen into a sound and peaceful slumber, 41 THE MA S TER KE T while the indicator still pointed to the south- east and he continued to move rapidly through the cool night air. ^^^^^^i 7fe j Bi ^';| jM^jaM*^-:^ CHAPTER FIVE THE CANNIBAL ISLAND DOUBTLESS the adventures of the day had tired Rob, for he slept throughout the night as comfortably as if he had been within his own room, lying upon his own bed. When, at last, he opened his eyes and gazed sleepily about him, he found himself over a great body of water, mov- ing along with considerable speed. , ^^It's the ocean, of course," he said to hlnrself. **I haven't reached Cuba yet.'' I: is to be regretted that Rob's knowledge of geography was so superficial; for, as he had intended to reach Cuba, he should have 43 THE MASTER KET taken a course almost southwest from Bos- ton, instead of southeast. The sad result of his Ignorance you will presently learn, for during the entire day he continued to travel over a boundless waste of ocean, without the sight of even an island to cheer him. The sun shone so hot that he regretted he had not brought an umbrella. But he wore a wide-brimmed straw hat, which protected him somewhat, and he finally dis- covered that by rising to a considerable dis- tance above the ocean he avoided the reflec- tion of the sun upon the water and also came within the current of good breeze. Of course he dared not stop, for there was no place to land; so he calmly con- tinued his journey. ^^It may be Pve missed Cuba,'' he thought; ^^but I can not change my course now, for if I did I might get lost, and never be able to find land again. If I keep on as I am I shall be sure to reach land of same 44 THE CANNIBAL ISLAND sort, in time, and when I wish to return home I can set the indicator to the north- west and that will take me directly back to Boston." This was good reasoning, but the rash youth had no idea he was speeding over the ocean, or that he was destined to arrive shortly at the barbarous island of Brava, off the coast of Africa. Yet such was the case; just as the sun sank over the edge of the waves he saw, to his great relief, a large island directly in his path. He dropped to a lower position in the air, and when he judged himself to be over the center of the island he turned the indi- cator to zero and stopped short. The country was beautifully wooded, while pretty brooks sparkled through the rich green foliage of the trees. The island sloped upwards from the sea-coast in all di- rections, rising to a hill that was almost a mountain in the center. There were two open spaces, one on each side of the island, 45 THE MA S TER KE 7 and Rob saw that these spaces were occu- pied by queer-looking huts built from brush- wood and branches of trees. This showed that the island was inhabited, but as Rob had no idea what island it was he wisely de- termined not to meet the natives until he had discovered what they were like and whether they were disposed to be friendly. So he moved over the hill, the top of which proved to be a flat, grass-covered plateau about fifty feet in diameter. Find- ing it could not be easily reached from below, on account of its steep sides, and contained neither men nor animals, he alighted on the hill-top and touched his feet to the earth for the first time in twenty- four hours. The ride through the air had not tired him in the least; in fact, he felt as fresh and vigorous as if he had been resting through- out the journey. As he walked upon the soft grass of the plateau he felt elated, and compared himself to the explorers of 46 THE CA NNIBA L ISLA ND ancient days; for it was evident that civili- zation had not yet reached this delightful spot. There was scarcely any twilight in this tropical climate and it grew dark quickly. Within a few minutes the entire island, save where he stood, became dim and in- distinct. He ate his daily tablet, and after watching the red glow fade in the western sky and the gray shadows of night settle around him he stretched himself comfortably upon the grass and went to sleep. The events of the day must have deep- ened his slumber, for when he awoke the sun was shining almost directly over him, showing that the day was well advanced. He stood up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes and decided he would like a drink of water. From where he stood he could see several little brooks following winding paths through the forest, so he settled upon one that seemed farthest from the brushwood vil- lages, and turning his indicator in that direc- 47 THE MASTER K ET tion soon floated through the air to a shel- tered spot upon the bank. Kneeling down, he enjoyed a long, re- freshing drink of the clear water, but as he started to regain his feet a coil of rope was suddenly thrown about him, pinning his arms to his sides and rendering him abso- lutely helpless. At the same time his ears were saluted with a wild chattering in an unknown tongue, and he found himself surrounded by a group of natives of hideous appearance. They were nearly naked, and bore spears and heavy clubs as their only weapons. Their hair was long, curly, and thick as bushes, and through their noses and ears were stuck the teeth of sharks and curious metal ornaments. These creatures had stolen upon Rob so quietly that he had not heard a sound, but now they jabbered loudly, as if much ex- cited. Finally one fat and somewhat aged na- 48 THE CANNIBAL ISLAND live, who seemed to be a chief, came close to Rob and said, in broken English: ^^How get here?'' "I flew," said the boy, with a grin. The chief shook his head, saying: ^'No boat come. How white man come?" ^ ^Through the air," replied Rob, who was rather flattered at being called a ^^man." The chief looked into the air with a puz- zled expression and shook his head again. ^^ White man lie," he said calmly. Then he held further conversation with his fellows, after which he turned to Rob and announced: ^^Me see white man many times. Come in big boats. White men all bad. Make kill with bang-sticks. We kill white man with club. Then we eat white man. Dead white man good. Live white man bad!' This did not please Rob at all. The idea of being eaten by savages had never occur- 49 THE MASTER KEY red to him as a sequel to his adventures. So he said rather anxiously to the chief: ^^Look here, old fellow; do you want to die?" ^^Me no die. You die," was the reply. ^'You'll die, too, if you eat me," said Rob. ^4'm full of poison." ''Poison? Don't know poison," re- turned the chief, much perplexed to under- stand him. ''Well, poison will make you sick — awful sick. Then you'll die. I'm full of it; eat it every day for breakfast. It don't hurt white men, you see, but it kills black men quicker than the bang-stick." The chief listened to this statement care- fully, but only understood it in part. After a moment's reflection he declared: " White man lie. Lie all time. Me eat plenty white man. Never get sick; never die." Then he added, with renewed cheerfulness: "Me eat you, too !" Before Rob could think of a further pro- 50 THE CANNIBAL ISLAND test, his captors caught up the end of the rope and led him away through the forest. lie was tightly bound, and one strand of rope ran across the machine on his wrist and pressed it into his flesh until the pain was severe. But he resolved to be brave, whatever happened, so he stumbled along after the savages without a word. After a brief journey they came to a vil- lage, where Rob was thrust into a brush- wood hut and thrown upon the ground, still tightly bound. '^ We light fire," said the chief. ^^ Then kill little white man. Then eat him." With this comforting promise he went away and left Rob alone to think the mat- ter over. ^^ This is tough," reflected the boy, with a groan. '^ I never expected to feed canni- bals. Wish I was at home with mother and dad and the girls. Wish I'd never seen the Demon of Electricity and his won- derful inventions. I was happy enough be- 51 THE MASTER KEY fore I struck that awful Master Key. And now I'll be eaten — with salt and pepper, probably. Wonder if there'll be any gravy. Perhaps they'll boil me, with biscuits, as mother does chickens. Oh-h-h-h-h! It's just awful !" In the midst of these depressing thoughts he became aware that something was hurt- ing his back. After rolling over he found that he had been lying upon a sharp stone that stuck out of the earth. This gave him an idea. He rolled upon the stone again and began rubbing the rope that bound him against the sharp edge. Outside he could hear the crackling of fagots and the roar of a newly-kindled fire, so he knew he had no time to spare. He wriggled and pushed his body right and left, right and left, sawing away at the rope, until the strain and exertion started the per- spiration from every pore. At length the rope parted, and hastily uncoiling it from his body Rob stood up 52 THE CANNIBAL ISLAND and rubbed his benumbed muscles and tried to regain his lost breath. He had not freed himself a moment too soon, he found, for hearing a grunt of surprise behind him he turned around and saw a native standing in the door of the hut. Rob laughed, for he was not a bit afraid of the blacks now. As the native made a rush toward him the boy drew the electric tube from his pocket, pointed it at the foe, and pressed the button. The fellow sank to the earth without even a groan, and lay still. Then another black entered, followed by the fat chief. When they saw Rob at lib- erty, and their comrade lying apparently dead, the chief cried out in surprise, using some expressive words in his own language. '^If it's just the same to you, old chap," said Rob, coolly, ^'I won't be eaten to-day. You can make a pie of that fellow on the ground." ^'No! We eat you," cried the chief, an- 53 THE MASTER KEl grily. ^'You cut rope, but no get away; no boat!" ''I don't need a boat, thank you," said the boy; and then, as the other native sprang forward, he pointed the tube and laid him out beside his first victim. At this act the chief stood an instant in amazed uncertainty. Then he turned and rushed from the hut. Laughing with amusement at the wad- dHng, fat figure, Rob followed the chief and found himself standing almost in the center of the native village. A big fire was blaz- ing merrily and the blacks were busy mak- ing preparations for a grand feast. Rob was quickly surrounded by a crowd of the villagers, who chattered fiercely and made threatening motions in his direction; but as the chief cried out to them a warning in the native tongue they kept a respectful distance and contented themselves with brandishing their spears and clubs. ^'If any of your fellows come nearer," 54 THE CANNIBAL ISLAND Rob said to the fat chief, ^'I'll knock 'em over," "What you make do?" asked the chief, nervously. "Watch sharp, and you'll see," answered Rob. Then he made a mocking bow to the circle and continued: "Pm pleased to have met you fellows, and proud to think you like me well enough to want to eat me; but I'm in a bit of a hurry to-day, so I can't stop to be digested." After which, as the crowd broke into a hum of surprise, he added: "Good-day, black folks!" and quick- ly turned the indicator of his traveling ma- chine to the word "up." Slowly he rose into the air, until his heels were just above the gaping blacks; but there he stopped short. With a thrill of fear he glanced at the indicator. It was pointed properly, and he knew at once that some- thing was wrong with the delicate mechan- ism that controlled it. Probably the pres- sure of the rope across its face, when he was 55 THE MAS7^ER KEl bound, had put it out of order. There he was, seven feet in the air, but without the power to rise an inch farther. This short flight, however, had greatly astonished the blacks, who, seeing his body suspended in mid-air, immediately hailed him as a god, and prostrated themselves up- on the ground before him. The fat chief had seen something of white men in his 3'outh, and had learned to mis- trust them. So, while he remained as pros- trate as the rest, he peeped at Rob with one of his little black eyes and saw that the boy was ill at ease, and seemed both annoyed and frightened. So he muttered some orders to the man next him, who wriggled along the ground until he had reached a position behind Rob, when he rose and pricked the suspended '* god " with the point of his spear. <^ Ouch!" yelled the boy; '' stop that !" He twisted his head around, and seeing the black again make a movement with the 56 THE CANNIBAL ISLAND spear, Rob turned his electric tube upon him and keeled him over like a ten-pin. The natives, who had looked up at his cry of pain, again prostrated themselves, kicking their toes against the ground in a terrified tattoo at this new evidence of the god's powers. The situation was growing somewhat strained by this time, and Rob did not know what the savages would decide to do next; so he thought it best to move awa)' from them, since he was unable to rise to a greater height. He turned the indicator towards the south, where a level space ap- peared between the trees; but instead of taking that direction he moved towards the northeast, a proof that his machine had now become absolutely unreliable. More- over, he was slowly approaching the fire, which, although it had ceased blazing, was a mass of glowing red embers. In his excitement he turned the indicator this way and that, trying to change the di- 57 THE MA S TER KEl rection of his flight, but the only result of his endeavor was to carry him directly over the fire, where he came to a full stop. " Murder! Help! Fire and blazes!" he cried, as he felt the glow of the coals be- neath him. " I'll be roasted, after all! Here; help. Fatty, help!" The fat chief sprang to his feet and came to the rescue. He reached up, caught Rob by the heels, and pulled him down to the ground, a\yay from the fire. But the next moment, as he clung to the boy's feet, they both soared into the air again, and, al- though now far enough from the fire to es- cape its heat, the savage, finding himself lifted from the earth, uttered a scream of horror and let go of Rob, to fall head over heels upon the ground. The other blacks had by this time re- gained their feet, and now they crowded around their chief and set him upright agam. Rob continued to float in the air, just 58 THE CANNIBAL ISLAND above their heads, and now abandoned all thoughts of escaping by means of his wrecked traveling machine. But he re- solved to regain a foothold upon the earth and take his chances of escape by running rather than flying. So he turned the indi- cator to the word " down," and very slowly it obeyed, allowing him, to his great relief, to sink gently to the ground. CHAPTER SIXTH THE BUCCANEERS ONCE more the blacks formed a cir- cle around our adventurer, who coolly drew his tube and said to the chief: "Tell your people I'm going to walk away through those trees, and if any one dares to interfere with me I'll paralyze him." The chief understood enough English to catch his meaning, and repeated the mes- sage to his men. Having seen the terrible effect of the electric tube they wisely fell back and allowed the boy to pass. He marched through their lines with a 60 THE BUCCANEERS fine air of dignity, although he was fearful lest some of the blacks should stick a spear into him or bump his head with a war- club. But they were awed by the wonders they had seen and were still inclined to be- lieve him a god, so he was not molested. When he found himself outside the vil- lage he made for the high plateau in the center of the island, where he could be safe from the cannibals while he collected his thoughts. But when he reached the place he found the sides so steep he could not climb them, so he adjusted the indicator to the word ^^up" and found it had still enough power to support his body while he clambered up the rocks to the level, grass- covered space at the top. Then, reclining upon his back, he gave himself up to thoughts of how he might escape from his unpleasant predicament. ^'Here I am, on a cannibal island, hun- dreds of miles from civilization, with no way to get back,'' he reflected. ^'The 6i THE MASTER KEl family will look for me every day, and finally decide Pve broken my neck. The Demon will call upon me when the week is up and won't find me at home; so Til miss the next three gifts. I don't mind that so much, for they might bring me into worse scrapes than this. But how am I to get away from this beastly island? I'll be eaten, after all, if I don't look out!" These and similar thoughts occupied him for some time, yet in spite of much plan- ning and thinking he could find no practical means of escape. At the end of an hour he looked over the edge of the plateau and found it surrounded by a ring of the black cannibals, who had calmly seated themselves to watch his move- ments. '^Perhaps they intend to starve me into surrender," he thought; *'but they won't succeed so long as mj' tablets hold out. And if, in time, they should starve me, I'll be 62 THE BUCCANEERS too thin and tough to make good eating; so ril get the best of them, anyhow." Then he again lay down and began to examine his electrical traveling machine. He did not dare take it apart, fearing he might not be able to get it together again, for he knew nothing at all about its con- struction. But he discovered two little dents on the edge, one on each side, which had evidently been caused by the pressure of the rope. ^' If I could get those dents out," he thought, '' the machine might work." He first tried to pry out the edges with his pocket knife, but the attempt resulted in failure. Then, as the sides seemed a littie bulged outward by the dents, he placed the machine between two flat stones and pressed them together until the little instrument was nearly round again. The dents remained, to be sure, but he hoped he had removed the pressure upon the works. 63 THE MASTER KEY There was just one way to discover how well he had succeeded, so he fastened the machine to his wrist and turned the indi- cator to the word ^^up." Slowly he ascended, this time to a height of nearly twenty feet. Then his progress became slower and finally ceased alto- gether. ''That's a little better," he thought. '' Now let's see if it will go sidewise." He put the indicator to ''north-west," — the direction of home — and very slowly the machine obeyed and carried him away from the plateau and across the island. The natives saw him go, and springing to their feet began uttering excited shouts and throwing their spears at him. But he was already so high and so far away that they failed to reach him, and the boy con- tinued his journey unharmed. Once the branches of a tall tree cau«:ht him and nearl}^ tipped him over; but he managed to escape others by drawing up 64 THE BUCCANEERS his feet. At last he was free of the island and traveling over the ocean again. He was not at all sorry to bid good-by to the cannibal island, but he was worried about the machine, which clearly was not in good working order. The vast ocean was be- neath him, and he moved no faster than an ordinar}' walk. ''At this rate I'll get home some time next year," he grumbled. '' However, I suppose I ought to be glad the machine works at all." And he really was glad. All the afternoon and all the long sum- mer night he moved slowly over the water. It was annoying to go at '' a reg'lar jog- trot," as Rob called it, after his former swift flight; but there was no help for it. Just as dawn was breaking he saw in the distance a small vessel, sailing in the direc- tion he was following, yet scarcely moving for lack of wind. He soon caught up with it, but saw no one on deck, and t'^e craft had a dingy and uncared-for ap ) jaranc(i 65 THE MASTER KEY that was not reassuring. But after hover- ing over it for some time Rob decided to board the ship and rest for a while. He alighted near the bow, where the deck was highest, and was about to explore the place when a man came out of the low cabin and espied him. This person had a most villainous coun- tenance, and was dark-skinned, black- bearded and dressed in an outlandish, pi- ratical costume. On seeing the boy he gave a loud shout and was immediately joined by four companions, each as disa- greeable in appearance as the first. Rob knew there would be trouble the moment he looked at this evil crew, and when they drew their daggers and pistols and began fiercely shouting in an unknown tongue, the boy sighed and took the electric tube from his coat pocket. The buccaneers did not notice the move- ment, ^'ut rushed upon him so quickly that he had \q^ press the button at a lively rate. 66 a strange sight ti THE B UCCA NEERS The tube made no noise at all, so it was a strange and remarkable sight to see the pirates suddenly drop to the deck and lie motionless. Indeed, one was so nearlj' upon him when the electric current struck him that his head, in falling, bumped into Rob's stomach and sent him reeling against the side of the vessel. He quickly recovered himself, and seeing his enemies were rendered harmless, the boy entered the cabin and examined it curiously. It was dirty and ill-smelling enough, but the corners and spare berths were heaped with merchandise of all kinds which had been taken from those so un- lucky as to have met these cruel and des- perate men. After a short inspection of the place he returned to the deck and again seated him- self in the bow. The crippled condition of his traveling machine was now his chief trouble, and although a good breeze had sprung up to fill (>7 THE MASTER KET the sails and the little bark was making fair licadwa}', Rob knew he could never expect to reach home unless he could discover a better mode of conveyance than this. He unstrapped the machine from his wrist to examine it better, and while hold- ing it carelessly in his hand it slipped and fell with a bang to the deck, striking upon its round edge and rolling quickly past the cabin and out of sight. With a cry of alarm he ran after it, and after much search found it lying against the bulwark near the edge of a scupper hole, where the least jar of the ship would have sent it to the bottom of the ocean. Rob hastily seized his treasure, and upon examining it found the fall had bulged the rim so that the old dents scarcely showed at all. But its original shape was more distorted than ever, and Rob feared he had utterly ruined its delicate mechan- ism. Should this prove to be true, he might now consider himself a prisoner of this piratical band, the members of which, 68 THE BUCCANEERS although temporarily disabled, would soon regain consciousness. He sat in the bow, sadly thinking of his misfortunes, until he noticed that one of the men began to stir. The effect of the elec- tric shock conveyed by the tube was begin- ning to wear away, and now the buccaneer sat up, rubbed his head in a bewildered fashion and looked around him. When he saw Rob he gave a shout of rage and drew his knife, but one motion of the electric tube made him cringe and slip away to the cabin, where he remained out of danger. And now the other four sat up, groaning and muttering in their outlandish speech; but they had no notion of facing Rob's tube a second time, so one by one they joined their leader in the cabin, leaving the boy undis- turbed. By this time the ship had begun to pitch and toss in an uncomfortable fashion, and Rob noticed that the breeze had increased to a gale. There being no one to look after 69 THE MASTER KET the sails, the vessel was in grave danger of capsizing or breaking her masts. The waves were now running high, too, and Rob began to be worried. Presently the captain of the pirates stuck his head out of the cabin door, jabbered some unintelligible words and pointed to the sails. The boy nodded, for he under- stood they wanted to attend to the rigging. So the crew trooped forth, rather fearfully, and began to reef the sails and put the ship into condition to weather the storm. Rob paid no further attention to them. He looked at his traveling machine rather doubtfully and wondered if he dared risk its power to carry him through the air. Whether he remained in the ship or trusted to the machine, he stood a good chance of dropping into the sea at any moment. So, while he hesitated, he attached the ma- chine to his wrist and leaned over the bul- warks to watch the progress of the storm. 70 THE BUCCANEERS He might stay in the ship until it foundered, he thought, and then take his chances with the machine. He decided to wait until a climax arrived. The climax came the next moment, for while he leaned over the bulwarks the buc- caneers stole up behind him and suddenly seized him in their grasp. While two of them held his arms the others searched his pockets, taking from him the electric tube and the silver box containing his tablets. These they carried to the cabin and threw upon the heap of other valuables they had stolen. They did not notice his traveling machine, however, but seeing him now un- armed they began jeering and laughing at him, while the brutal captain relieved his anger by giving the prisoner several mali- cious kicks. Rob bore his misfortune meekly , although he was almost ready to oxy with grief and disappointment. But when one of the pi- 71 THE MASTER KEY rates, to inflict further punishment on the boy, came towards him with a heavy strap, he resolved not to await the blow. Turning the indicator to the word "up" he found, to his joy and relief, that it would yet obey the influence of the power of re- pulsion. Seeing him rise into the air the fellow made a grab for his foot and held it firmly, while his companions ran to help him. Weight seemed to make no difference in the machine; it lifted the pirate as well as Rob; it lifted another who clung to the first man's leg, and another who clung to him. The other two also caught hold, hoping their united strength would pull him down, and the next minute Rob was soaring through the air with the entire string of five buccaneers dangling from his left leg. At first the villains were too astounded to speak, but as they realized that they were being carried through the air and away from their ship they broke into loud shouts of ^2 THE B UCCA NEERS dismay, and finally the one who grasped Rob's leg lost his hold and the five plunged downward and splashed into the sea. Finding the machine disposed to work accurately, Rob left the buccaneers to swim to the ship in the best way they could, while he dropped down to the deck again and re- covered from the cabin his box of tablets and the electric tube. The fellows were just scrambling on board when he again escaped, shooting into the air with considerable speed. Indeed, the instrument now worked bet- ter than at any time since he had reached thecanni'bal island, and the boy was greatly delighted. The wind at first sent him spinning away to the south, but he continued to rise until he was above the air currents, and the storm raged far beneath him. Then he set the indicator to the northwest and breathlessly waited to see if it would obey. Hurrah! away he sped at a fair rate of speed, while 73 THE MA S TER KE 1 all his anxiety changed to a feeling of sweet contentment. His success had greatly surprised him, but he concluded that the jar caused by drop- ping the instrument had relieved the pres- sure upon the works, and so helped rather than harmed the free action of the electric currents. While he moved throu^rh the air with an easy, gliding motion he watched with much interest the storm raging below. Above his head the sun was peacefully shining and the contrast was strange and impressive. After an hour or so the storm abated, or else he passed away from it, for the deep blue of the ocean again greeted his e)^es. He dropped downward until he was about a hundred feet above the water, when he continued his northwesterly course. But now he regretted having interfered for a moment with the action of the ma- chine, for his progress, instead of being 74 THE BUCCA XE E R S swift as a bird's flight, became slow and jerky, nor was he sure that the damaged ma- chine might not break down altogether at any moment. Yet so far his progress was in the right direction, and he resolved to ex- periment no further with the instrument, but to let it go as it would, so long as it supported him above the water. However irregular the motion might be, it was sure, if continued, to bring him to land in time, and that was all he cared about just then. When night fell his slumber was broken and uneasy, for he wakened more than once with a start of fear that the machine had broken and he was falling into the sea. Sometimes he was carried along at a swift pace, and again the machine scarcely worked at all; so his anxiety was excusable. The following day was one of continued uneasiness for the boy, who began to be harrassed by doubts as to whether, after all, he was moving in the right direction. The n THE MASTER KEY machine had failed at one time in this re- spect and it might again. He had lost all confidence in its accuracy. In spite of these perplexities Rob passed the second night of his uneven flight in pro- found slumber, being exhausted by the strain and excitement he had undergone. When he awoke at daybreak, he saw, to his pro- found delight, that he was approaching land. The rising sun found him passing over a big city, which he knew to be Boston. He did not stop. The machine was so little to be depended upon that he dared make no halt. But he was obliged to alter the direction from northwest to west, and the result of this slight change was so great a reduction in speed that it was mid-day be- fore he saw beneath him the familiar village in which he lived. Carefully marking the location of his father's house, he came to a stop directly over it, and a few moments later he man- 76 THE BUCCANEERS aged to land upon the exact spot in the back yard whence he had taken his tirst success- ful flight. CHAPTER SEVEN THE DEMON BECOMES ANGRY WHEN Rob had been hugged and kissed by his mother and sisters, and even Mr. Joslyn had embraced him warml}^, he gave them a brief account of his adventures. The story was received with many doubtful looks and much grave shaking of heads, as was quite natural under the circumstances. '' I hope, my dear son," said his father, ' ' that you have now passed through enough dangers to last you a lifetime, so that here- after you will be contented to remain at home." 78 THE DEMON BECOMES ANGRY ''Oh, Robert!" cried his mother, with tears in her loving eyes, '*you don't know how we've all worried about you for the past week!" ''A week?" asked Rob, with surprise, ^'Yes; it's a week to-morrow morning since you flew into the air and disappeared." ^'Then," said the bo}', thoughtfully, *^Pve reached home just in time." ^'In time for what?" she asked. But he did not answer that question. He was thinking of the Demon, and that on the afternoon of this very day he might expect the wise and splendid genius to visit him a second time. At luncheon, although he did not feel hungry, he joined the family at table and pleased his mother by eating as heartily as of old. lie was surprised to find how good the food tasted, and to realize what a pleasure it is to gratify one's sense of taste. The tablets were all right for a journey, he thought, but if he always ate them he would 79 THE MASTER KET be sure to miss a great deal of enjoyment, since there was no taste to them at all. At four o'clock he went to his workshop and unlocked the door. Everything was exactly as he had left it, and he looked at his simple electrical devices with some amusement. The}- seemed tame beside the wonders now in his possession; yet he recol- lected that his numerous wires had enabled him to strike the Master Key, and therefore should not be despised. Before long he noticed a quickening in the air, as if it were suddenly surcharged with electric fluid, and the next instant, in a dazzling flash of light, appeared the Demon. ^4 am here!'' he announced, ^'So am I,'' answered Rob, ^^Butatone time I really thought I should never see you asrain. I've been — " ^^ Spare me your history," said the De- mon, coldly, "I am aware of your advent- ures." 80 THE DEMON BECOMES ANGRY ^^Oh, you are!" said Rob, amazed* ^^Then you know — " *'I know all about your foolish experi- ences," interrupted the Demon, *'for I have been with you constantly, although I re- mained invisible." "Then you know what a jolly time I've had," returned the boy. "But why do you call them foolish experiences?" "Because they were, abominably fool- ish!" retorted the Demon, bitterly, "I en- trusted to you gifts of rare scientific interest — electrical devices of such utility that their general adoption by mankind would create a new era in earth life. I hoped your use of these devices would convey such hints to electrical engineers that they would quickly comprehend their mechanism and be able to reproduce them in sufficient quantities to supply the world. And how do you treat these marvelous gifts? Why, you carry them to a cannibal island, where even your crude civilization has not yet penetrated!" 8i THE MASTER KET ^' I wanted to astonish the natives," said Rob, grinning. The Demon uttered an exclamation of anger, and stamped his foot so fiercely that thousands of electric sparks filled the air, to disappear quickl}^ with a hissing, crinkling sound. '' You might have astonished those igno- rant natives as easily by showing them an ordinary electric light," he cried, mock- ingly, " The power of your gifts would have startled the most advanced electricians of the world. Why did you waste them upon barbarians?" " Really," faltered Rob, who was fright- ened and awed by the Demon's vehement anger, " I never intended to visit a cannibal island. I meant to go to Cuba." " Cuba! Is that a center of advanced scientific thought? Why did you not take your marvels to New York or Chicago; or, if you wished to cross the ocean, to Paris or Vienna?" 82 THE DEMOX BECOMES AXGR) "\ never thought of those places," ac- knowledged Rob, meekl)'. " Then you were foolish, as 1 said," de- clared the Demon, in a calmer tone. '^Can 3^ou not realize that it is better to be consid- ered great by the intelligent thinkers of the earth, than to be taken for a god by stupid cannibals?" '' Oh, yes, of course," said Rob. ''\ wish now that I had gone to Europe. But you're not the only one who has a kick coming," he continued. ''Your flimsy traveling ma- chine was nearly the death of me." ''Ah, it is true," acknowledged the De- mon, frankly. "The case was made of too light material. When the rim was bent it pressed against the works and im- peded the proper action of the currents. Had you gone to a civilized countr)^ such an accident could not have happened; but to avoid possible trouble in the future I have prepared a new instrument, having a 83 THE MASTER KET stronger case, which I will exchange for the one you now have." ''That's vcr}^ kind of you,'' said Rob, eagerly handing his battered machine to the Demon and receiving the new one in re- turn, ^^Are you sure this will work?" '* It is impossible for you to injure it," answered the other. *^And how about the next three gifts?" inquired the boy, anxiously. '' Before I grant them," replied the De- mon, '^ you must give me a promise to keep away from uncivilized places and to exhibit your acquirements only among people of intelligence." ''All right," agreed the boy; '^ I'm not anxious to visit that island again, or any other uncivilized country." " Then I will add to your possessions three gifts, each more precious and impor- tant than the three you have already re- ceived." At this announcement Rob began to 84 THE DEMON BECOMES AXGRV quiver with excitement, and sat staring eagerly at the Demon, while the latter in- creased in stature and sparkled and glowed more brilliantly than ever. s CHAPTER EIGHT ROB ACQUIRES NEW POWERS "T HAVE seen the folly of sending you J|_ into the world with an offensive in- strument, yet with no method of defense," resumed the Demon, presently. '*You have knocked over a good many people with that tube during the past week." "I know," said Rob; "but Icouldn't help it. It was the only way I had to protect my- self." "Therefore my next gift shall be this Garment of Protection. You must wear it underneath your clothing. It has power to accumulate and exercise electrical repellent ROB AatCf/RIiS X^ir POWERS force. Perhaps you do not know what that means, so I will explain more fully. When any missile, such as a bullet, sword or lance, approaches your person, its rush through the air will arouse the repellent force of which I speak, and this force, being more powerful than the projective force, will ar- rest the flight of the missile and throw it back again. Therefore nothing can touch your person that comes with any degree of force or swiftness, and you will be safe from all ordinary weapons. When wearing this Garment you will find it unnecessary to use the electric tube except on rare occasions. Never allow revenge or animosity to influ- ence your conduct. Men may threaten, but they can not injure you, so you must re- member that they do not possess your mighty advantages, and that, because of your strength, you should bear with them patiently." Rob examined the garment with much curiosity. It glittered like silver, yet was 87 THE MASTER KEY soft and pliable as lamb's wool. Evidently the Demon had prepared it especially for his use, for it was just Rob's size. ^^Now," continued the Demon, more gravely, ^'we approach the subject of an electrical device so truly marvelous that even I am awed when I contemplate the accura- cy and perfection of the natural laws which guide it and permit it to exercise its func- tions. Mankind has as yet conceived noth- ing like it, for it requires full knowledge of electrical power to understand even its pos- sibilities." The Being paused, and drew from an inner pocket something resembling a flat metal box. In size it was about four inches by six, and nearly an inch in thickness, ^^What is it?" asked Rob, wonderingly. ^4t is an automatic Record of Events," answered the Demon. ^4 don't understand," said Rob, with hesitation. ^' I will explain to you its use," returned 88 ROB ACQUIRES NEW POWERS the Demon, ^^ although the electrical forces which operate it and the vibratory currents which are the true records must remain un- known to you until your brain has mastered the higher knowledge of electricity. At present the practical side of this invention will be more interesting to you than a re- view of its scientific construction. '' Suppose you wish to know the princi- pal events that are occurring in Ger- many at the present moment. You first turn this little wheel at the side until the word ^ GERMANY ' appears in the slot at the small end. Then open the top cover, which is hinged, and those passing events in which you are interested will appear before your eyes. '' The Demon, as he spoke, opened the cover, and, looking within, the boy saw, as in a mirror, a moving picture before him. A regiment of soldiers was marching through the streets of Berlin, and at its head rode a body of horsemen, in the midst 89 THE MASTER KET of which was the Emperor himself. The people who thronged the sidewalks cheered and • waved their hats and handkerchiefs with enthusiasm, while a band of musicians played a German air, which Rob could dis- tinctly hear. • While he gazed, spell-bound, the scene ckanged, and he looked upon a great war- ship entering a harbor with flying pennants. The rails were lined with officers and men straining their eyes for the first sight of their beloved ^^ Vaterland^'* after a long foreign cruise, and a ringing cheer, as from a thou- sand throats, came famtly to Rob's ear. Again the scene changed, and within a dingy, underground room, hemmed in by walls of stone, and dimly lighted by a flick- ering lamp, a body of wild-eyed, desperate men were plighting an oath to murder the Emperor and overthrow his government, ^ ^Anarchists?" asked Rob, trembling with excitement. ^^ Anarchists!" answered the Demon, with 90 ROB ACQUIRES NEW POWERS a faint sneer, and he shut the cover of the Record with a sudden snap. ^^It's wonderful I" cried the boy, with a sigh that was followed by a slight shiver. ^^ The Record is, indeed, proof within itself of the marvelous possibilities of elec- tricity. Men are now obliged to depend upon newspapers for information; but these can only relate events long after they have occurred. And newspaper statements are often unreliable and sometimes wholly false, while many events of real importance are never printed in their columns. You may guess what an improvement is this automatic Record of Events, which is as re- liable as Truth itself. Nothing can be altered or falsified, for the vibratory cur- rents convey the actual events to your vis- ion, even as they happen.'' ^^ But suppose," said Rob, "that some- thing important should happen while Pm asleep, or not looking at the box?" "I have called this a Record," replied 91 — I THE MASTER KEY the Demon, ^^and such it really is, although I have shown you only such events as are in process of being recorded. By pressing this spring you may open the opposite cover of the box, where aU events of importance that have occurred throughout the world during the previous twenty-four hours will appear before you in succession. You may thus study them at your leisure. The vari- ous scenes constitute a register of the world's history, and may be recalled to view as often as you desire.'' ^4t's — it's like knowing everything," murmured Rob, deeply impressed for per- haps the first time in his life. '^\\.is knowing everything," returned the Demon; ^^and this mighty gift I have de- cided to entrust to your care. Be very care- ful as to whom you permit to gaze upon these pictures of passing events, for knowl- edge may often cause great misery to the human race." ^^I'U be careful," promised the boy, as 92 ROB ACQUIRES NEW POWERS he took the box reverently within his own hands. ^^The third and last gift of the present series," resumed the Demon, "is one no less curious than the Record of Events, al- though it has an entirely different value. It is a Character Marker." "What's that?" inquired Rob. "I will explain. Perhaps you know that your fellow-creatures are more or less hypo- critical. That is, they try to appear good when they are not, and wise when in reality they are foolish. They tell you they are friendly when they positively hate you, and try to make you believe they are kind when their natures are cruel. This hypocrisy seems to be a human failing. One of your writers has said, with truth, that among civ- ilized people things are seldom what they seem." "Pve heard that," remarked Rob. "On the other hand," continued the Demon, "some people with fierce counte- 93 ^ THE MA S TER KEY nances are kindly by nature, and many who appear to be evil are in reality honorable and trustworthy. Therefore, that you ma}^ judge all your fellow-creatures truly, and know upon whom to depend, I give you the Character Marker. It consists of this pair of spectacles. While you wear them every one you meet will be marked upon the forehead with a letter indicating his px her character. The good will bear the letter 'G,' the evil the letter 'E.' The wise will be marked with a 'W and the foolish with an *F.' The kind will show a ^K' upon their foreheads and the cruel a letter ^C Thus you may determine by a single look the true natures of all those you encounter." ^'And are these, also, electrical in their construction?" asked the boy, as he took the spectacles. ^'Certainly. Goodness, wisdom and kind- ness are natural forces, creating character. For this reason men are not always to blame 94 ROB ACQUIRES NEW POWERS for bad character, as they acquire it uncon- sciously. All character sends out certain electrical vibrations, which these spectacles concentrate in their lenses and exhibit to the gaze of their wearer, as I have explained." ^^It's a fine idea," said the boy;^'who discovered it?" '4t is a fact that has always existed, but is now utilized for the first time." ^^Oh!" said Rob. ^'With these gifts, and the ones you ac- quired a week ago, you are now equipped to astound the world and awaken mankind to a realization of the wonders that may be accomplished by natural forces. See that you employ these powers wisely, in the in- terests of science, and do not forget your promise to exhibit your electrical marvels only to those who are most capable of com- prehending them." ^^Pll remember," said Rob. ^^Then adieu until a week from to-day, 95 THE MASTER KET when I will meet you here at this hour and bestow upon you the last three gifts which you are entitled^to receive. Good-by!" "Good-byl" regpated Rob, and in a gor- geous flajfe-of^oTor the Demon disappeared, leavingjhe boy alone in the room with his new and wonderful possessions. 9« CHAPTER NINE THE SECOND JOURNEY BY this time you will have gained a fair idea of Rob's character. He is, in truth, a typical American boy, possessing an average intelligence not yet regulated by the balance-wheel of experience. The mysteries of electricity were so attractive to his eager nature that he had devoted considerable time and some study to electri- cal experiment; but his study was the super- ficial kind that seeks to master only such details as may be required at the moment. Moreover, he was full of boyish reckless- ness and irresponsibility and therefore diffi- 97 THE MASTER KET cult to impress with the dignity of science and the gravity of human existence. Life, to him, was a great theater wherein he saw himself the most interesting if not the most important actor, and so enjoyed the play with unbounded enthusiasm. Aside from the extraordinary accident which had forced the Electrical Demon into his life, Rob may be considered one of those youngsters who might possibly develop into a brilliant manhood or enter upon an ordi- nary, humdrum existence, as Fate should determine. Just at present he had no thought beyond the passing hour, nor would he bother himself by attempting to look ahead or plan for the future. Yet the importance of his electrical pos- sessions and the stern injunction of the De- mon to use them wisely had rendered the boy more thoughtful than at any previous time during his brief life, and he became so preoccupied at the dinner table that his 98 THE SECOND J OUR NET father and mother cast many anxious looks in his direction. Of course Rob was anxious to test his newly-acquired powers, and decided to lose no time in starting upon another journey. But he said nothing to any of the family about it, fearing to meet with opposition. He passed the evening in the sitting-room, in company with his father and mother and sisters, and even controlled his impatience to the extent of playing a game of carom with Nell; but he grew so nervous and impatient at last that his sister gave up the game in disgust and left him to his own amusement. At one time he thought of putting on the electric spectacles and seeing what the real character of each member of his family might be; but a sudden fear took posses- sion of him that he might regret the act forever afterward. They were his nearest and dearest friends on earth, and in his 99 THE MASTER KEY boyish heart he loved them all and believed in their goodness and sincerity. The pos- sibility of finding a bad character mark on any of their familiar faces made him shud- der, and he determined then and there never to use the spectacles to view the face of a friend or relative. Had any one, at that moment, been gazing at Rob through the lenses of the wonderful Character Marker, I am sure a big ^^W would have been found upon the boy's forehead. When the family circle broke up, and all retired for the night, Rob kissed his parents and sisters with real affection before going to his own room. But, on reaching his cozy little chamber, instead of preparing for bed Rob clothed himself in the Garment of Repulsion. Then he covered the glit- tering Garment with his best summer suit of clothes, which effectually concealed it. He now looked around to see what else he should take, and thought of an umbrella, a rain-coat, a book or two to read during lOO THE SECOND JOURNEY the journey, and several things besides; but he ended by leaving them all behind. '' I can't be loaded down with so much truck,'' he decided; ^' and I'm going into civilized countries, this time, where I can get anything I need." However, to prevent a recurrence of the mistake he had previously made, he tore a map of the world and a map of Europe from his geography, and, folding them up, placed them in his pocket. He also took a small compass that had once been a watch- charm, and, finally, the contents of a small iron bank that opened with a combina- tion lock. This represented all his sav- ings, amounting to two dollars and seven- teen cents in dimes, nickles and pennies. ^' It isn't a fortune," he thought, as he counted it up, '^ but I didn't need any money the last trip, so perhaps I'll get along somehow. I don't like to tackle dad for more, for he might ask questions and try to keep me at home." lOI THE MASTER KEY By the time he had finished his prepara- tions and stowed all his electrical belong- ings in his various pockets, it was nearly midnight and the house was quiet. So Rob stole down stairs in his stocking feet and noiselessly opened the back door. It was a beautiful July night and, in addition to the light of the full moon, the sky was filled with the radiance of count- less thousands of brilliant stars. After Rob had put on his shoes he un- folded the map, which was plainly visible by the starlight, and marked the direction he must take to cross the Atlantic and reach London, his first stopping place. Then he consulted his compass, put the indicator of his traveling machine to the word *^up," and shot swiftly into the air. When he had reached a sufficient height he placed the indicator to a point north of east and, with a steady and remarkably swift flight, began his journe}-. ^* Here goes," he remarked, with a sense 102 THE SECOND yOirR.YE} of exaltation, " for another week of advent- ure! I wonder what'll happen between now and next Saturday." CHAPTER TEN HOW ROB SERVED A MIGHTY KING THE new traveling machine was a distinct improvement over the old one, for it carried Rob with wonderful speed across the broad Atlantic. He fell asleep soon after starting, and only wakened when the sun was high in the heavens. But he found himself whirl- ing along at a good rate, with the greenish shimmer of the peaceful ocean waves spread beneath him far beyond his range of vision. Being in the track of the ocean steamers it was not long before he found himself overtaking a magnificent vessel whose HOW ROB SERVED A KING decks were crowded with passengers. He dropped down some distance, to enable him to see these people more plainly, and while he hovered near he could hear the excited exclamations of the passengers, who focused dozens of marine glasses upon his floating form. This inspection somewhat embarrassed him, and having no mind to be stared at he put on additional speed and soon left the steamer far behind him. About noon the sky clouded over, and Rob feared a rainstorm was approaching. So he rose to a point considerably beyond the clouds, where the air was thin but re- markably pleasant to inhale and the rays of the sun were not so hot as when reflected by the surface of the water. He could see the dark clouds rolling be- neath him like volumes of smoke from a factory chimney, and knew the earth was catching a severe shower of rain; yet he congratulated himself on his foresight in not being burdened with umbrella or rain- 105 THE MASTER KEY coat, since his elevated position rendered him secure from rain-clouds. But, having cut himself off from the earth, there remained nothing to see except the clear sky overhead and the tumbling clouds beneath; so he took from his pocket the Automatic Record of Events, and watched with breathless interest the inci- dents occurring in different parts of the world. A big battle was being fought in the Philippines, and so fiercely was it con- tested that Rob watched its progress for hours, with rapt attention. Finally a brave rally by the Americans sent their foes to the cover of the woods, where they scattered in every direction, only to form again in a deep valley hidden by high hills. '' If only I was there," thought Rob, '' I could show that captain where to find the rebels and capture them. But I guess the Philippines are rather out of my way, so our soldiers will never know how near they are to a complete victory." 10$ HO W ROB SER VED A KING The boy also found considerable amuse- ment in watching the course of an insurrec- tion in Venezuela, where opposing armies of well-armed men preferred to bluster and threaten rather than comedo blows. During the evening he found that an ^Mmportant event" was Madame Bern- hardt's production of a new play, and Rob followed it from beginning to end with great enjoyment, although he felt a bit guilty at not having purchased a ticket. ^^But it's a crowded house, anyway," he reflected, ^^and Pm not taking up a reserved seat or keeping any one else from seeing the show. So where's the harm? Yet it seems to me if these Records get to be common, as the Demon wishes, people will all stay at home and see the shows, and the poor actors Ml starve to death." The thought made him uneasy, and he began, for the first time, to entertain a doubt of the Demon's wisdom in forcing such devices upon humanity. 107 THE MASTER KEY The clouds had now passed away and the moon sent her rays to turn the edges of the waves into glistening showers of jewels. Rob closed the lid of the wonderful Rec- ord of Events and soon fell into a deep sleep that held him unconscious for many hours. When he awoke he gave a start of sur- prise, for beneath him was land. How long it was since he had left the ocean be- hind him he could not guess, but his first thought was to set the indicator of the trav- eling machine to zero and to hover over the country until he could determine where he was. This was no easy matter. He saw green fields, lakes, groves and villages; but these might exist in any country. Being still at a great elevation he descended gradually until he was about twenty feet from the surface of the earth, where he paused near the edge of a small village. At once a crowd of excited people assem- io8 -ushed toward it, Init the iic>:t ii HO W ROB SERVED A KING 1 bled, shouting to one another and pointing towards him in wonder. In order to be pre- pared for emergencies Rob had taken the electric tube from his pocket, and now, as he examined the dress and features of the people below, the tube suddenly slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, where one end stuck slantingly into the soft earth. A man rushed eagerly towards it, but the next moment he threw up his hands and fell upon his back, unconscious. Others who ran to assist their fallen comrade quickly tumbled into a heap beside him. It was evident to Rob that the tube had fallen in such a position that the button was being pressed continually and a current of electric fluid issued to shock whoever came near. Not wishing to injure these people he dropped to the ground and drew the tube from the earth, thus releasiog the pressure upon the button. But the villagers had now decided that the boy was their enemy, and no sooner had he 109 THE MA S TER KEY touched the ground than a shower of stones and sticks rained about him. Not one reached his body, however, for the Garment of Repulsion stopped their flight and re- turned them to rattle with more or less force against those who had thrown them — ''like regular boomerangs," thought Rob. To receive their own blows in this fashion seemed so like magic to the simple folk that with roars of fear and pain they ran away in all directions. " It's no use stopping here," remarked Rob, regretfully, ''for I've spoiled my wel- come by this accident. I think these peo- ple are Irish, by their looks and speech, so I must be somewhere in the Emerald Isle." He consulted his map and decided upon the general direction he should take to reach England, after which he again rose into the air and before long was passing over the channel towards the shores of England. Either his map or compass or his calcula- tions proved wrong, for it was high noon no HOW ROB SERVED A KING before, having changed his direction a half dozen times, he came to the great city of London. He saw at a glance that it would never do to drop into the crowded streets, unless he wanted to become an object of public curiosity; so he looked around for a suitable place to alight. Near by was a monstrous church that sent a sharp steeple far into the air. Rob examined this spire and saw a narrow open- ing in the masonry that led to a small room where a chime of bells hung. He crept through the opening and, finding a ladder that connected the belfry with a platform below, began to descend. There were three ladders, and then a winding flight of narrow, rickety stairs to be passed before Rob finally reached a small room in the body of the church. This room proved to have two doors, one con- necting with the auditorium and the other letting into a side street. Both were locked, but Rob pointed the electric tube at III THE MASTER KET the outside door and broke the lock in an instant. Then he walked into the street as composedly as if he had lived all his life in London. There were plenty of sights to see, you may be sure, and Rob walked around until he was so tired that he was glad to rest upon one of the benches in a beautiful park. Here, half hidden by the trees, he amused himself by looking at the Record of Events. " London's a great town, and no mis- take," he said to himself; ''but let's see what the British are doing in South Africa to-day." He turned the cylinder to ''South Africa," and, opening the lid, at once became inter- ested. An English column, commanded by ^ brave but stubborn officer, was surrounded by the Boer forces and fighting desperately jto avoid capture or annihilation. " This would be interesting to King Ed- ward," thought the boy, " Guess J'll hunt ^im up and tell him about it/^ 112 HO W ROB SERVED A KING A few steps away stood a policeman. Rob approached him and asked: ^^ Where's the king to-day ?" The officer looked at him with mingled surprise and suspicion. ^^'Is Majesty is sojournin' at Marlb'ro 'Ouse, just now," was the reply. ^'Per'aps you wants to make 'im a wissit," he con- tinued, with lofty sarcasm. ^^That's it, exactly,'' said Rob. "Vm an American, and thought while I was in Lon- don I'd drop in on His Royal Highness and say 'hello' to him." The officer chuckled, as if much amused. ''Hamericans isbloomin' green," he re- marked, ''so youse can stand for Hameri- can, right enough. No other wissitors is such blarsted fools. But yon's the palace, an' I s'pose 'is Majesty'll give ye a 'ot re- ception." "Thanks; I'll look him up," said the boy, and left the officer convulsed with laughter, "3 THE MASTER KEY He soon knew why. The palace was surrounded by a cordon of the king's own life guards, who admitted no one save those who presented proper credentials. ^'There's only one thing to do;" thought Rob, '^ and that's to walk straight in, as I haven't any friends to give me a regular in- troduction." So he boldly advanced to the gate, where he found himself stopped by crossed car- bines and a cry of ^^Halt!" ^'Excuse me," said Rob; ''I'm in a hur- ry." He pushed the carbines aside and marched on. The soldiers made thrusts at him with their weapons, and an officer jabbed at his breast with a glittering sword, but the Gar- ment of Repulsion protected him from these dangers as well as from a hail of bullets that followed his advancing figure. He reached the entrance of the palace only to face another group of guardsmen and a second order to halt, and as these sol- 114 of the paliii miy to face HOW ROB SEE VED A KING diers were over six feet tall and stood shoulder to shoulder Rob saw that he could not hope to pass them without using his electric tube. ^^ Stand aside, you fellows!" he ordered. There was no response. He extended the tube and, as he pressed the button, de- scribed a semi-circle with the instrument. Immediately the tall guardsmen toppled over like so many tenpins, and Rob stepped across their bodies and penetrated to the re- ception room, where a brilliant assemblage awaited, in hushed and anxious groups, foi opportunity to obtain audience with the king. ^^I hope his Majesty isn't busy," said Rob to a solemn-visaged official who confronted him. '^\ want to have a little talk with him." '^\ — I — ah — ^beg pardon!" exclaimed the astounded master of ceremonies. ^^What name, please?" ^^Ohj never mind my name," replied 115 THE MASTER KET Rob, and pushing the gentleman aside he entered the audience chamber of the great king. King Edward was engaged in earnest con- sultation with one of his ministers, and after a look of surprise in Rob's direction and a grave bow he bestowed no further attention upon the intruder. But Rob was not to be baffled now. ^^Your Majesty," he interrupted, ^'Pve important news for you. A big fight is taking place in South Africa and your sol- diers will probably be cut into mince meat." The minister strode towards the boy angrily. ^^Explain this intrusion!'' he cried. ^^I have explained. The Boers are hav- ing a regular killing-bee. Here! take a look at it yourselves." He drew the Record from his pocket, and at the movement the minister shrank back as if he suspected it was an infernal machine and might blow his head off; but ii6 no W ROB SER VED A KING the king stepped quietly to the boy's side and looked into the box when Rob threw open the lid. As he comprehended the full wonder of the phenomenon he was observing Edward uttered a low cry of amazement, but there- after he silently gazed upon the fierce battle that still raged far away upon the African veld. Before long his keen eye recognized the troops engaged and realized their im- minent danger. "They'll be utterly annihilated!'' he gasped. "What shall we do?" "Oh, we can't do anything just now," answered Rob. "But it's curious to watch how bravely the poor fellows fight for their lives." The minister, who by this time was also peering into the box, groaned aloud, and then all three forgot their surroundings in the tragedy they were beholding. Hemmed in by vastly superior num- bers, the English were calmly and stub- 117 THE MASTER KEY bornly resisting every inch of advance and selling their lives as dearly as possible. Their leader fell pierced by a hundred bul- lets, and the king, who had known him from boyhood, passed his hand across his eyes as if to shut out the awful sight. But the fascination of the battle forced him to look again, and the next moment he cried aloud: ''Look there 1 Look there!" Over the edge of a line of hills appeared the helmets of afileof Englishsoldiers. They reached the summit, followed by rank after rank, until the hillside was alive with them. And then, with a ringing cheer that came like a faint echo to the ears of the three watchers, they broke into a run and dashed forward to the rescue of their brave com- rades. The Boers faltered, gave back, and the next moment fled precipitately, while the exhausted survivors of the courageous band fell sobbing into the arms of their rescuers . ii8 HOW ROB SERVED A KING Rob closed ^he lid of the Record with a sudden snap that betrayed his deep feeling, and the king pretended to cough behind his handkerchief and stealthily wiped his eyes. '^ 'Twasn't so bad, after all," remarked the boy, with assumed cheerfulness; ^^ but it looked mighty ticklish for your men at one time.'' King Edward regarded the boy curiously, remembering his abrupt entrance and the marvelous device he had exhibited. ^'What do you call that?" he asked, pointing at the Record with a finger that trembled slightly from excitement. ^^ It is a new electrical invention," replied Rob, replacing it in his pocket, '^and so constructed that events are reproduced at the exact moment they occur." ^^ Where can I purchase one?" demanded the king, eagerly. '^ They're not for sale," said Rob. ^'This one of mine is the first that ever happened." ^^Ohl" 119 THE MA S TER KEY '* I really think," continued the boy, nodding sagely, *'that it wouldn't be well to have these Records scattered around. Their use would give some folks unfair ad- vantage over others, you know." " Certainly." *^ I only showed you this battle because I happened to be in London at the time and thought you'd be interested." '^ It was verj^ kind of you," said Edward; *^ but how did you gain admittance?" ^^ Well, to tell the truth, I was obliged to knock over a few of your tall life- guards. They seem to think you're a good thing and need looking after, like jam in a cup- board." The king smiled. '* I hope you haven't killed my guards," said he. '^ Oh, no; they'll come around all right." ^Mt is necessary," continued Edward, '' that public men be protected from intru- sion, no matter how democratic they may be I20 HOW R OB SER VED A KING personally. You would probably find it as difficult to approach the President of the United States as the King of England." ^^Oh, Pm not complaining," said Rob. "It wasn't much trouble to break through." " You seem quite young to have mastered such wonderful secrets of Nature," contin- ued the king. '^ So I am," replied Rob, modestly; ''but these natural forces have really ex- isted since the beginning of the world, and some one was sure to discover them in time." He was quoting the Demon, al- though unconsciously. '' You are an American, I suppose," said the minister, coming close to Rob and star- ing him in the face. " Guessed right the first time," answered the boy, and drawing his Character Mark- ing spectacles from his pocket, he put them on and stared at the minister in turn. Upon the man's forehead appeared the letter '' E." 121 THE MASTER KET ^^Your Majesty/' said Rob, *M have here another queer invention. Will you please wear these spectacles for a few mo- ments?" The king at once put them on. , *' They are called Character Markers," continued the boy, ^'because the lenses catch and concentrate the character vibra- tions radiating from every human individual and reflect the true character of the person upon his forehead. If a letter ^G' appears, you may be sure his disposition is good; if his forehead is marked with an ^E' his character is evil, and you must beware of treachery." The king saw the ^^E" plainly marked upon his minister's forehead, but he said nothing except ^^Thankyou," and returned the spectacles to Rob. But the minister, who from the first had been ill at ease, now became positively angry. '' Do not believe him, your Majestyl" 122 HOW ROB SERVED A KING he cried. '' It is a trick, and meant to de- ceive you." *' I did not accuse you," answered the king, sternly. Then he added: ** I wish to be alone with this young gentleman." The minister left the room with an anx- ious face and hanging head. ^'Now," said Rob, *^ let's look over the record of the past day and see if that fellow has been up to any mischief." He turned the cylinder of the Record to ^^ England," and slowly the events of the last twenty-four hours were reproduced, one after the other, upon the polished plate. Before long the king uttered an exclama- tion. The Record pictured a small room in which were seated three gentlemen en- gaged in earnest conversation. One of them was the accused minister. '' Those men," said the king in a low voice, while he pointed out the other two, ^^are my avowed enemies. This is proof that your wonderful spectacles indicated my min- 123 THE Af ASTER KET ister's character with perfect truth. I am grateful to you for thus putting me upon my guard, for I have trusted the man fuUv." " Oh, don't mention it," replied the boy, lightly; "I'm glad to have been of service to you. But it's time for me to go." " I hope you will favor me with another inter\new," said the king, " for I am much interested in your electrical inventions. I will instruct my guards to admit you at any time, so you will not be obliged to fight your way in." "All right. But it really doesn't matter," answered Rob. " It's no trouble at all to knock 'em over." Then he remembered his manners and bowed low before the king, who seemed to him " a fine fellow and not a bit stuck up." And then he walked calmly from the pal- ace. The people in the outer room stared at him wonderingly and the officer of the 124 HO W ROB SERVED A KING guard saluted the boy respectfully. But Rob only smiled in an amused way as he marched past them with his hands thrust deep into his trousers' pockets and his straw hat tipped jauntily upon the back of his head. CHAPTER ELEVEN THE MAN OF SCIENCE ROB passed the remainder of the day wandering about London and amus- ing himself by watching the peculiar wa3^s of the people. When it became so dark that there was no danger of his being ob- served, he rose through the air to the nar- row slit in the church tower and lay upon the floor of the little room, with the bells hanging all around him, to pass the night. He was just falling asleep when a tre- mendous din and clatter nearly deafened him, and set the whole tower trembling. It was the midnight chime. 126 THE MAN OF SCIENCE Rob clutched his ears tightly, and when the vibrations had died away descended b}^ the ladder to a lower platform. But even here the next hourly chime made his ears ring, and he kept descending from platform to platform until the last half of a restless night was passed in the little room at the bottom of the tower. When, at daylight, the boy sat up and rubbed his eyes, he said, wearily: '' Churches are all right as churches; but as hotels they are rank failures. I ought to have bunked in with my friend, King Ed- ward." He climbed up the stairs and the ladders again and looked out the little window in the belfry. Then he examined his map of Europe. '^ I believe Pll take a run over to Paris," he thought. '' I must be home again by Saturday, to meet the Demon, so Pll have to make every day count." Without waiting for breakfast, since he 127 THE MA S TER KET had eaten a tablet the evening before, he crept through the window and mounted into the fresh morning air until the great city with its broad waterway lay spread out beneath him. Then he sped away to the southeast and, crossing the channel, passed between Amiens and Rouen and reached Paris before ten o'clock. Near the outskirts of the city appeared a high tower, upon the flat roof of which a man was engaged in adjusting a telescope. Upon seeing Rob, who was passing at no great distance from this tower, the man cried out: ^''Approchez! — Venez iciV^ Then he waved his hands frantically in the air, and fairly danced with excitement. So the boy laughed and dropped down to the roof where, standing beside the French- man, whose eyes were actually protruding from their sockets, he asked, coolly: ^^Well, what do you want?'' The other was for a moment speechless. 128 of tlie Frenchman were ocliiiilly protnuliiig fviim their sockets THE MA N OF SCIENCE He was a tall, lean man, having a bald head but a thick, iron-gray beard, and his black eyes sparkled brightly from behind a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles. After attentively regarding the boy for a time he said, in broken English: *^But, M'sieur, how can you fly wizout ze — ^ze machine? I have experiment myself wiz some air-ship; but you — ^zere is nossing to make go!" Rob guessed that here was his opportu- nity to do the Demon a favor by explaining his electrical devices to this new acquaint- ance, who was evidently a man of science. ^^Here is the secret, Professor," he said, and holding out his wrist displayed the trav- eling machine and explained, as well as he could, the forces that operated it. The Frenchman, as you may suppose, was greatly astonished, and to show how perfectly the machine worked Rob turned the indicator and rose a short distance above the tower, circling around it before he re- 129 THE MASTER KEY joined the professor on the roof. Then he showed his food tablets, explaining how each was stored with sufficient nourishment for an entire day. The scientist positively gasped for breath, so powerful was the excitement he experi- enced at witnessing these marvels. ' ^ Eet is wonderful — grand — magnifique ! ' ' he exclaimed. *'But here is something of still greater interest," continued Rob, and taking the Automatic Record of Events from his pocket he allowed the professor to view the re- markable scenes that were being enacted throughout the civilized world. The Frenchman was now trembling vio- lently, and he implored Rob to tell him where he might obtain similar electrical ma- chines. ''I can't do that," replied the boy, decid- edly; ^^but, having seen these, you maybe able to discover their construction for your- self. Now that you know such things to be 130 THE MAN OF SCIENCE possible and practical, the hint should be sufficient to enable a shrewd electrician to prepare duplicates of them." The scientist glared at him with evident disappointment, and Rob continued: "These are not all the wonders I can ex- hibit. Here is another electrical device that is, perhaps, the most remarkable of any I possess . ' ' He took the Character Marking specta- cles from his pocket and fitted them to his eyes. Then he gave a whistle of surprise and turned his back upon his new friend. He had seen upon the Frenchman's fore- head the letters ''E" and "C." " Guess I've struck the wrong sort of sci- entist, after alll" he muttered, in a disgusted tone. His companion was quick to prove the accuracy of the Character Marker. Seeing the boy's back turned, he seized a long iron bar that was used to operate the telescope, and struck at Rob so fiercely that had he 131 THE MASTER KEY not worn the Garment of Protection his skull would have been crushed by the blow. As it was, the bar rebounded with a force that sent the murderous Frenchman sprawl- ing upon the roof, and Rob turned around and laughed at him. '^ It won't work. Professor,'' he said. ^' I'm proof against assassins. Perhaps you had an idea that when you had killed me you could rob me of my valuable pos- sessions; but they wouldn't be a particle of use to a scoundrel like you, I assure you! Good morning." Before the surprised and baffled scientist could collect himself sufficiently to reply, the boy was soaring far above his head and searching for a convenient place to alight, that he might investigate the charms of this famed city of Paris. It was indeed a beautiful place, with many stately buildings lining the shady boulevards. So thronged were the streets 132 THE MAN OF SCIENCE that Rob well knew he would soon be the center of a curious crowd should he alight upon them. Already a few sky-gazers had noted the boy moving high in the air, above their heads, and one or two groups stood pointing their fingers at him. Pausing at length above the imposing structure of the Hotel Anglais, Rob no- ticed at one of the upper floors an open window, before which was a small iron bal- cony. Alighting upon this he proceeded to enter, without hesitation, the open window. He heard a shriek and a cry of "Auvo- leurV^ and caught sight of a woman's fig- ure as she dashed into an adjoining room, slamming and locking the door behind her. ^' I don't know as I blame her," ob- served Rob, with a smile at the panic he had created. ^' I s'pose she takes me for a burglar, and thinks I've climbed up the lightning rod." He soon found the door leading into the 133 THE MASTER KEY hallway and walked down several flights of stairs until he reached the office of the hotel. '^ How much do you charge a day?" he inquired, addressing a fat and pompous- looking gentleman behind the desk. The man looked at him in a surprised way, for he had not heard the boy enter the room. But he said something in French to a waiter who was passing, and the latter came to Rob and made a low bow. '^ I speak ze Eengliss ver' fine," he said. '^ What desire have you?" '^ What are your rates by the day?" asked the boy. ^' Ten francs, M'sieur." '^ How many dollars is that?" ' 'Dollar Americaine?" **Yes; United States money." ^'Ah, ouil Eet is ze two dollar, M'sieur." ''All right; I can stay about a day before I go bankrupt. Give me a room." 134 THE MAN OF SCIENCE ^'Certainementj M'sieur. Have you ze luggage?'' ''No; but I'll pay in advance," said Rob, and began counting out his dimes and nickles and pennies, to the unbounded amazement of the waiter, who looked as if he had never seen such coins before. He carried the money to the fat gentle- man, who examined the pieces curiously, and there was a long conference between them before it was decided to accept them in payment for a room for a day. But at this season the hotel was almost empty, and when Rob protested that he had no other money the fat gentleman put the coins into his cash box with a resigned sigh and the waiter showed the boy to a little room at the very top of the building. Rob washed and brushed the dust from his clothes, after which he sat down and amused himself by viewing the pictures that constantly formed upon the polished plate of the Record of Events. 135 CHAPTER TWELVE HOW ROB SAVED A REPUBLIC. WHILE following the shifting scenes of the fascinating Record Rob noted an occurrence that caused him to give a low whistle of astonishment and devote several moments to serious thought. "I believe it's about time I interfered with the politics of this Republic," he said, at last, as he closed the lid of the metal box and restored it to his pocket. "If I don't take a hand there probably won't be a Re- public of France very long and, as a good American, I prefer a republic to a mon- archy." 136 HOW ROB SAVED A REPUBLIC Then he walked down-stairs and found his English-speaking waiter. '* Where's President Loubet?" he asked. '^Ze President! Ah, he is wiz his man- sion. To be at his residence, M'sieur." '^ Where is his residence?" The waiter began a series of voluble and explicit directions which so confused the boy that he exclaimed: ''Oh, much obliged!" and walked away in disgust. Gaining the street he approached a gen- darme and repeated his question, with no better result than before, for the fellow waved his arms wildly in all directions and roared a volley of incomprehensible French phrases that conveyed no meaning what- ever. ''If ever I travel in foreign countries again," said Rob, "Pll learn their lingo in advance. Why doesn't the Demon get up a conversation machine that will speak all languages?" 137 THE MASTER KET By dint of much inquiry, however, and after walking several miles following am- biguous directions, he managed to reach the residence of President Loubet. But there he was politely informed that the President was busily engaged in his garden, and would see no one. '^That's all right," said the boy, calmly. ''If he's in the garden PU have no trouble finding him." Then, to the amazement of the French- men, Rob shot into the air fifty feet or so, from which elevation he overlooked a pretty garden in the rear of the President's man- sion. The place was protected from ordi- nary intrusion \y\i high walls, but Rob de- scended within the enclosure and walked up to a man who was writing at a small table placed under the spreading branches of a large tree. *'Is this President Loubet?" he inquired, with a bow. The gentleman looked up. 138 HO W ROB SA VED A REPUBLIC ^*My servants were instructed to allow no one to disturb me,'' he said, speaking in excellent English. *^It isn't their fault; I flev^, over the wall," returned Rob. ^*The fact is," he added, hastily, as he noted the President's frown, ^' I have come to save the Republic; and I haven't much time to waste over a bundle of Frenchmen, either." The President seemed surprised. "Your name!" he demanded, sharply. " Robert Billings Joslyn, United States of America!" "Your business. Monsieur Joslyn!" Rob drew the Record from his pocket and placed it upon the table. "This, sir," said he, "is an electrical device that records all important events. I wish to call your attention to a scene en- acted in Paris last evening which may have an effect upon the future history of your country." He opened the lid, placed the Record so 139 THE MAS TER KET that the President could see clearly, and then watched the changing expressions upon the great man's face; first indifference, then interest, the next moment eagerness and amazement. "Mon Dieul^'^ he gasped; '^ the Orlean- istsl" Rob nodded. '* Yes; they've worked up a rather pretty plot, haven't they?" The President did not reply. He was anxiously watching the Record and scrib- bling notes on a paper beside him. His face was pale and his lips tightly compressed. Finally he leaned back in his chair and asked : '^Can you reproduce this scene again?" ^^Certainly, sir," answered the boy; ^'as often as you like." ^'Will you remain here while I send for my minister of police? It will require but a short time." ^^Call him up, then. I'm in something 140 Rob watched the changing express!' HOW ROB SA VED A REPUBLIC of a hurry myself, but now I've mixed up with this thing I'll see it through." The President touched a bell and gave an order to his servant. Then he turned to Rob and said, wonderingly: '^You are a boyl" ^ ^That's true, Mr. President," was the answer; ^^but an American boy, you must remember. That makes a big difference, I assure you." The President bowed gravely. ^^This is your invention?" he asked. ''No; I'm hardly equal to that. But the inventor has made me a present of the Rec- ord, and it's the only one in the world." ''It is a marvel," remarked the Presi- dent, thoughtfully. " More! It is a real miracle. We are living in an age of won- ders, my young friend." " No one knows that better than myself, sir," replied Rob. " But, tell me, can you trust your chief of police?" ^' I think so," said the President, slowly; 141 / THE MASTER KEY *^yet since your invention has shown me that many men I have considered honest are criminally implicated in this royalist plot, I hardly know whom to depend upon." '^ Then please wear these spectacles dur- ing your interview with the minister of po- lice," said the boy. '* You must say noth- ing, while he is with us, about certain marks that will appear upon his forehead; but when he has gone I will explain those marks so you will understand them." The President covered his eyes with the spectacles. '^ Why," he exclaimed, *^ I see upon your own brow the letters — " *^ Stop, sir 1" interrupted Rob, with a blush; '' I don't care to know what the let- ters are, if it's just the same to you." The President seemed puzzled by this speech, but fortunately the minister of police arrived just then and, under Rob's guid- ance, the pictured record of the Orleanist 142 HOW ROB SAVED A REPUBLIC plot was reproduced before the startled eyes of the official. ''And now," said the boy, '' let us see if any of this foolishness is going on just at present." He turned to the opposite side of the Record and alloWea the President and his minister of police to witness the quick suc- cession of events even as they occurred. Suddenly the minister cried, '' Ha!" and, pointing to the figure of a man disembark- ing from an English boat at Calais, he said, excitedly : '' That, your Excellency, is the Duke of Orleans, in disguise! I must leave you for a time, that I may issue some necessary or- ders to my men; but this evening I shall call to confer with you regarding the best mode of suppressing this terrible plot." When the official had departed, the Presi- dent removed the spectacles from his eyes and handed them to Rob. '' What did you see ?" asked the boy. 143 THE MASTER KET '^ The letters ^G' and 'W\'' ^^Then you may trust him fully," de- clared Rob, and explained the construction of the Character Marker to the interested and amazed statesman. ^^And now I must go," he continued, ^* for my stay in your city will be a short one and I want to see all I can." The President scrawled something on a sheet of paper and signed his name to it, afterward presenting it, with a courteous bow, to his visitor. ^' This will enable you to go wherever you please, while in Paris," he said. ^'I regret my inability to reward you properly for the great service you have rendered my country; but you have my sincerest grati- tude, and may command me in any way." ^' Oh, that's all right," answered Rob. *^ I thought it was my duty to warn you, and if you look sharp you'll be able to break up this conspiracy. But I don't w^nt finy reward. Good day, sir," 144 HOW ROB SAVED A REPUBLIC He turned the indicator of his traveling machine and immediately rose into the air, followed by a startled exclamation from the President of France. Moving leisurely over the city, he selected a deserted thoroughfare to alight in, from whence he wandered unobserved into the beautiful boulevards. These were now brilliantly lighted, and crowds of pleas- ure seekers thronged them everywhere. Rob experienced a decided sense of relief as he mixed with the gay populace and en- joyed the sights of the Splendid city, for it enabled him to forget, for a time, the re- sponsibilities thrust upon him by the posses- sion of the Demon's marvelous electrical devices. 145 3 CHAPTER THIRTEEN ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES OUR young adventurer had intended to pass the night in the little bed at his hotel, but the atmosphere of Paris proved so hot and disagreeable that he de- cided it would be more enjoyable to sleep while journeying through the cooler air that lay far above the earth^'s surface. So just as the clocks were striking the midnight hour Rob mounted skyward and turned the indicator of the traveling machine to the east, intending to make the cit}^ of Vienna his next stop. He had risen to a considerable distance, 146 ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES where the air was remarkably fresh and ex- hilarating, and the relief he experienced from the close and muggy streets of Paris was of such a soothing nature that he pres- ently fell fast asleep. His day in the me- tropolis had been a busy one, for, like all boys, he had forgotten himself in the de- light of sight-seeing and had tired his mus- cles and exhausted his strength to an un- usual degree. It was about three o'clock in the morning when Rob, moving restlessly in his sleep, accidently touched with his right hand the indicator of the machine which was fastened to his left wrist, setting it a couple of points to the south of east. He was, of course, unaware of the slight alteration in his course, which was destined to prove of serious importance in the near future. For the boy's fatigue induced him to sleep far beyond daybreak, and during this period of unconsciousness he was passing over the face of European countries and approaching 147 THE MASTER KEY sandy plain. Being too high to see the surface of the plain distinctly he dropped down a few hundred feet to a lower level, where he discovered he was surrounded by billows of sand as far as his eye could reach. ^^It's a desert, all right," was his com- ment; '' perhaps old Sahara herself." He started the machine again towards the east, and at a more moderate rate of speed skimmed over the surface of the desert. Before long he noticed a dark spot ahead of him which proved to be a large body of fierce looking men, riding upon drome- daries and slender, spirited horses and armed with long rifles and crookedly shaped simitars. '^ Those fellows seem to be looking for trouble," remarked the boy, as he glided over them, **and it wouldn't be exactly healthy for an enemy to get in their way. But I haven't time to stop, so Pm not likely to get mixed up in any rumpus with them." ISO 1 to be looking for trouble " THE MASTER KEY the lawless and dangerous dominions of the Orient. When, at last, he opened his eyes, he was puzzled to determine where he was. Beneath him stretched a vast, sandy plain, and speeding across this he came to a land abounding in luxuriant vegetation. The centrifugal force which propelled him was evidently, for some reason, greatly accelerated, for the scenery of the countrj'^ he was crossing glided by him at so rapid a rate of speed that it nearly took his breath away. ^' I wonder if I've passed Vienna in the night," he thought. ^^ It ought not to have taken me more than a few hours to reach there from Paris." Vienna was at that moment fifteen hun- dred miles behind him; but Rob's geogra- phy had always been his stumbling block at school, and he had not learned to gage the speed, of the traveling machine; so he 148 ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES was completely mystified as to his where- abouts. Presently a village having many queer spires and minarets whisked by him like a flash. Rob became worried, and resolved to slow up at the next sign of habitation. This was a good resolution, but Turke- stan is so thinly settled that before the boy could plan out a course of action he had passed the barren mountain range of Thian- Shan as nimbly as an acrobat leaps a jump- ing-bar. '^ This won't do at all!" he exclaimed, earnestly. *^ The traveling machine seems to be running away with me, and Pm miss- ing no end of sights by scooting along up here in the clouds." He turned the indicator to zero, and was relieved to find it obey with customary quickness. In a few moments he had slowed up and stopped, when he found himself suspended above another stretch of 149 THE MASTER KET stretched the vast plain of white, heated sands. He strained his eyes to catch a glimpse of the band of warriors he had passed, but they were moving slowly and had not yet appeared. The trees that sheltered Rob were the only ones without the city, although many low bushes or shrubs grew scattering over the space between hint and the walls. An arched gateway broke the enclosure at his left, but the gates wer^ tightly shut. Something in the stillness and the in- tense heat of the mid-day sun made the boy drowsy. He stretched himself upon the ground beneath the dense foliage of the biggest tree and abandoned himself to the languor that was creeping over him. *' I'll wait until that army of the desert arrives," he thought, sleepily. ^^ They either belong in this city or have come to capture it, so I can tell better what to dance when I find out what the band plays." The next moment he was sound asleep, 152 ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES sprawling upon his back in the shade and slumbering as peacefully as an infant. And while he lay motionless three men dropped in quick succession from the top of the city wall and hid among the low bushes, crawling noiselessly from one to another and so approaching, by degrees, the little group of trees. They were Turks, and had been sent by those in authority within the city to climb the tallest tree of the group and discover if the enemy was near. For Rob's conjecture had been correct, and the city of Yarkand awaited, with more or less anxiety, a threat- ened assault from its hereditary enemies, the Tatars. The three spies were not less forbidding in appearance than the horde of warriors Rob had passed upon the desert. Their features were coarse and swarthy, and their eyes had a most villainous glare. Old fash- ioned pistols and double-edged daggers were stuck in their belts and their clothing, 153 THE MA S TER KET though of gorgeous colors, was soiled and neglected. With all the caution of the American savage these Turks approached the tree, where, to their unbounded amazement, they saw the boy lying asleep. His dress and fairness of skin at once proclaimed him, in their shrewd eyes, a European, and their first thought was to glance around in search of his horse or dromedar}\ Seeing noth- ing of the kind near they were much puz- zled to account for his presence, and stood looking down at him with evident curiosity. The sun struck the polished surface of the traveling machine which was attached to Rob's wrist and made the metal glitter like silver. This attracted the eyes of the tallest Turk, who stooped down and stealth- ily unclasped the band of the machine from the boy's outstretched arm. Then, after a hurried but puzzled examination of the little instrument, he slipped it into the pocket of his jacket. 154 ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES Rob stirred uneasily in his sleep, and one of the Turks drew a slight but stout rope from his breast and with gentle but deft movement passed it around the boy's wrists and drew them together behind him. The action was not swift enough to arouse the power of repulsion in the Garment of Pro- tection, but it awakened Rob effectually, so that he sat up and stared hard at -his cap- tors. ^^ What are you trying to do, anyhow?" he demanded. The Turks laughed and said something in their own language. They had no knowledge of English. ^^ You're only making fools of your- selves," continued the boy, wrathfully. ^' It's impossible for you to injure me." The three paid no attention to his words. One of them thrust his hand into Rob's pocket and drew out the electric tube. His ignorance of modern appliances was so great that he did not know enough to push the 155 THE MASTER KET button. Rob saw him looking down the hollow end of the tube and murmured: '^ I wish it would blow your ugly head off!" But the fellow, thinking the shining metal might be of some value to him, put the tube in his own pocket and then took from the prisoner the silver box of tablets. Rob writhed and groaned at losing his possessions in this way, and while his hands were fastened behind him tried to feel for and touch the indicator of the traveling ma- chine. When he found that the machine also had been taken, his anger gave way to fear, for he realized he was in a dangerously helpless condition. The third Turk now drew the Record of Events from the boy's inner pocket. He knew nothing of the springs that opened the lids, so, after a curious glance at it, he secreted the box in the folds of his sash and continued the search of the captive. The Character Marking Spectacles were next ab- 156 ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES sttacted, but the Turk, seeing in them noth- ing but spectacles, scornfully thrust them back into Rob's pocket, while his comrades laughed at him. The boy was now rifled of seventeen cents in pennies, a broken pocket knife and a lead-pencil, the last arti- cle seeming to be highly prized. After they had secured all the booty they could find, the tall Turk, who seemed the leader of the three, violently kicked at the prisoner with his heavy boot. His sur- prise was great when the Garment of Re- pu^lsion arrested the blow and nearly over- threw the aggressor in turn. Snatching a dagger from his sash, he bounded upon the boy so fiercely that the next instant the en- raged Turk found himself lying upon his back three yards away, while his dagger flew through the air and landed deep in the desert sands. '' Keep it up 1" cried Rob, bitterly. '' I hope you'll enjoy yourself." The other Turks raised their comrade to 157 THE MA S TER KET his feet, and the three stared at one another in surprise, being unable to understand how a bound prisoner could so effectually defend himself. But at a whispered word from the leader, they drew their long pistols and fired point blank into Rob's face. The vol- ley echoed sharply from the city walls, but as the smoke drifted slowly away the Turks were horrified to see their intended victim laughing at them. Uttering cries of terror and dismay, the three took to their heels and bounded to- wards the wall, where a gate quickly opened to receive them, the populace feeling sure the Tatar horde was upon them. Nor was this guess so very far wrong; for as Rob, sitting disconsolate upon the sand, raised his eyes, he saw across the desert a dark line that marked the approach of the invaders. Nearer and nearer they came, while Rob watched them and bemoaned the foolish impulse that had led him to fall asleep in an 158 t terror and disinay, the three Turks took to their heels i i I J i I ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES unknown land where he could so easily be overpowered and robbed of his treasures. " I always suspected these electrical in- ventions would be my ruin some day," he reflected, sadly; " and now I'm side-tracked and left helpless in this outlandish country, without a single hope of ever getting home again. They probably won't be able to kill me, unless they find my Garment of Repulsion and strip that off; but I never could cross this terrible desert on foot and, having lost my food tablets, I'd soon starve if I attempted it." Fortunately, he had eaten one of the tab- lets just before going to sleep, so there was no danger of immediate starvation. But he was miserable and unhappy, and re- mained brooding over his cruel fate until a sudden shout caused him to look up. CHAPTER FOURTEEN TURK AND TATAR THE Tatars had arrived, swiftly and noiselessly, and a dozen of the war- riors, still mounted, were surrounding him. His helpless condition aroused their curi- osity, and while some of them hastily cut away his bonds and raised him to his feet, others plied him with questions in their own language. Rob shook his head to indicate that he could not understand; so they led him to the chief — an immense, bearded rep- resentative of the tribe of Kara-Khitai, the terrible and relentless Black Tatars of Thibet. The huge frame of this fellow was 1 60 TURK A ND TA TA R clothed in flowing robes of cloth-of-gold, braided with jewels, and he sat majestically upon the back of a jet-black camel • Under ordinary circumstances the stern features and flashing black eyes of this re- doubtable warrior would have struck a chill of fear to the boy's heart; but now under the influence of the crushing misfortunes he had experienced, he was able to gaze willi indifference upon the terrible visage of the desert chief. The Tatar seemed not to consider Rob an enemy. Instead, he looked upon him as an ally, since the Turks had bound and robbed him. Finding it impossible to converse with the chief, Rob took refuge in the sign lan- guage. He turned his pockets wrong side out, showed the red welts left upon his wrists by the tight cord, and then shook his fists angrily in the direction of the town. In return the Tatar nodded gravely and issued an order to his men. i6i THE MA S TER KET By this time the warriors were busily pitching tents before the walls of Yarkancl and making preparations for a formal siege. In obedience to the chieftain's orders, Rob was given a place within one of the tents nearest the wall and supplied with a brace of brass-mounted pistols and a dagger with a sharp, zigzag edge. These were evi- dently to assist the boy in fighting the Turks, and he was well pleased to have them. His spirits rose considerably when he found he had fallen among friends, al- though most of his new comrades had such evil faces that it was unnecessary to put on the Character Markers to judge their na- tures with a fair degree of accuracy. ^' I can't be very particular about the com- pany I keep," he thought, '^ and this gang hasn't tried to murder me, as the rascally Turks did. So for the present I'll stand in with the scowling chief and try to get a shot at the thieves who robbed me. If our side wins I may get a chance to recover TURK AND TA TAR some of my property. It's a slim chance, of course, but it's the only hope I have left." That very evening an opportunity oc- curred for Rob to win glory in the eyes of his new friends. Just before sundown the gates of the city flew open and a swarm of Turks, mounted upon fleet horses and camels, issued forth and fell upon their en- emies. The Tatars, who did not expect the sally, were scarcely able to form an op- posing rank when they found themselves engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict, fight- ing desperately for their lives. In such a battle, however, the Turks were at a disad- vantage, for the active Tatars slipped be- neath their horses and disabled them, bring- ing both the animals and their riders to the earth. At the first onslaught Rob shot his pistol at a Turk and wounded him so severely that he fell from his horse. Instantly the boy seized the bridle and sprang upon the 163 THE MASTER KET steed's back, and the next moment he had dashed into the thickest part of the fray. Bullets and blows rained upon him from all sides, but the Garment of Repulsion saved him from a single scratch. When his pistols had been discharged he caught up the broken handle of a spear, and used it as a club, galloping into the ranks of the Turks and belaboring them as hard as he could. The Tatars cheered and followed him, and the Turks were so amazed at his miraculous escape from their bullets that they became terrified, thinking he bore a charmed life and was protected by unseen powers. This terror helped turn the tide of battle, and before long the enemy was pressed back to the walls and retreated through the gates, which were hastily fastened behind them. In order to prevent a repetition of this sally the Tatars at once invested the gates, so that if the Turks should open them they 164 TURK A ND TA TA R were as likely to let their foes in as to op- pose them. While the tents were being moved up Rob had an opportunity to search the bat- tlefield for the bodies of the three Turks who had robbed him, but they were not among the fallen. " Those fellows were too cowardly to take part in a fair fight," declared the boy; but he was much disappointed, neverthe- less, as he felt very helpless without the electric tube or the traveling machine. The Tatar chief now called Rob to his tent and presented him with a beautiful ring set with a glowing pigeon's-blood ruby, in acknowledgment of his services. This gift made the boy feel very proud, and he said to the chief: " You're all right, old man, even if you do look like a pirate. If you can manage to capture that city, so I can get my electri- cal devices back, I'll consider you a trump as long as I live." i6s THE MA S TER KEY The chief thought this speech was in- tended to express Rob's gratitude, so he bowed solemnly in return. During the night that followed upon the first engagement of the Turks and Tatars, the boy lay awake trying to devise some plan to capture the city. The walls seemed too high and thick to be either scaled or broken by the Tatars, who had no artillery- whatever; and within the walls lay all the fertile part of the oasis, giving the besieged a good supply of water and provisions, while the besiegers were obliged to subsist on what water and food they had brought with them. Just before dawn Rob left his tent and went out to look at the great wall. The stars gave plenty of light, but the boy was worried to find that, according to Eastern custom, no sentries or guards whatever had been posted and all the Tatars were slumber- ing soundly. The city was likewise wrapped in pro- i66 TURK AND TA TAR found silence, but just as Rob was turning away he saw a head project stealthily over the edge of the wall before him, and recog- nized in the features one of the Turks who had robbed him. Finding no one awake except the boy the fellow sat upon the edge of the wall, with his feet dangling downward, and grinned wickedly at his former victim. Rob watched him with almost breathless eager- ness. After making many motions that con- veyed no meaning whatever, the Turk drew the electric tube from his pocket and pointed his finger first at the boy and then at the instrument, as if inquiring what it was used for. Rob shook his head. The Turk turned the tube over several times and examined it carefully, after which he also shook his head, seeming greatly puz- zled. By this time the boy was fairly trembling with excitement. He longed to recover this 167 THE MASTER KEY valuable weapon, and feared that at any moment the curious Turk would discover its use. He held out his hand toward the tube, and tried to say, by motions, that he would show, the fellow how to use it. The man seemed to understand, but he would not let the glittering instrument out of his posses- sion. Rob was almost in despair, when he hap- pened to notice upon his hand the ruby ring given him by the chief. Drawing the jewel from his finger he made offer, by signs, that he would exchange it for the tube. The Turk was much pleased with the idea, and nodded his head repeatedly, hold- ing out his hand for the ring. Rob had lit- tle confidence in the man's honor, but he was so eager to regain the tube that he de- cided to trust him. So he threw the ring to the top of the wall, where the Turk caught it skilfully; but when Rob held out his hand for the tube the scoundrel only laughed at him and began to scramble to his feet in or- i68 TURK A ND TA TA R der to beat a retreat. Chance, however, foiled this disgraceful treachery, for in his hurry the Turk allowed the tube to slip from his grasp, and it rolled off the wall and fell upon the sand at Rob's very feet. The robber turned to watch its fall and, filled with sudden anger, the boy grabbed the weapon, pointed it at his enemy, and pressed the button. Down tumbled the Turk, without a cry, and lay motionless at the foot of the wall. Rob's first thought was to search the pockets of his captive, and to his delight he ioww ,nd recovered his box of food tab- lets. The Record of Events and the travel- ing machine were doubtless in the possession of the other robbers, but Rob did not despair of recovering them, now that he had the tube to aid him. Day was now breaking, and several of the Tatars appeared and examined the body of the Turk with grunts of surprise, for there was no mark upon him to show how he had 169 THE MA S TER KE T been slain. Supposing him to be dead, they tossed him aside and forgot all about him. Rob had secured his ruby ring again, and going to the chief's tent he showed the jewel to the guard and was at once admitted. The black-bearded chieftain was still reclining upon his pillows, but Rob bowed before him, and by means of signs managed to ask for a band of warriors to assist him in as- saulting the town. The chieftain appeared to doubt the wisdom of the enterprise, not being able to understand how the boy could expect to succeed; but he graciously issued the required order, and by the time Rob reached the city gate he found a large group of Tatars gathered to support him, while the entire camp, roused to interest in the proceedings, stood looking on. Rob cared little for the quarrel between the Turks and Tatars, and under ordinary circumstances would have refused to side with one or the other; but he knew he could not hope to recover his electrical machines 170 TURK A ND TA TA R unless the city was taken b}^ the band of war- riors who had befriended him, so he de- termined to force an entrance for them. Without hesitation he walked close to the great gate and shattered its fastenings with the force of the electric current directed upon them from the tube. Then, shouting to his friends the Tatars for assistance, they rushed in a body upon the gate and dashed it open. The Turks had expected trouble when they heard the fastenings of the huge gate splinter and fall apart, so they had assembled in force before the opening. As the Tatars poured through the gateway in a compact mass they were met by a hail of bullets, spears and arrows, which did fearful execu- tion among them. Many were killed out- right, while others fell wounded to be tram- pled upon by those who pressed on from the rear. Rob maintained his position in the front rank, but escaped all injury through the 171 THE MASTER KEY possession of the Garment of Repulsion, But he took an active part in the fight and pressed the button of the electric tube again and again, tumbling the enemy into heaps on every side, even the horses and camels falling helplessly before the resistless cur- rent of electricity. The Tatars shouted joyfully as they wit- nessed this marvelous feat and rushed for- ward to assist in the slaughter; but the boy motioned them all back. He did not wish any more bloodshed than was necessary, and knew that the heaps of unconscious Turks around him would soon recover. So he stood alone and faced the enemy, calmly knocking them over as fast as they came near. Two of the Turks managed to creep up behind the boy, and one of them, who wielded an immense simitar with a two-edged blade as sharp as a razor, swung the weapon fiercely to cut off Rob's head. But the repulsive force aroused in the Gar- ment was so terrific that it sent the weapon 172 TURK AND TATAR flying backwards with redoubled swiftness, so that it caught the second Turk at the waist and cut him fairly in two. Thereafter they all avoided coming near the boy, and in a surprisingly short time the Turkish forces were entirely conquered, all having been reduced to unconsciousness except a few cowards who had run away and hidden in the cellars or garrets of the houses. The Tatars entered the city with shouts of triumph, and the chief was so delighted that he threw his arms around Rob's neck and embraced him warmly. Then began the sack of Yarkand, the fierce Tatars plundering the bazaars and houses, stripping them of everything of value they could find. Rob searched anxiously among the bodies of the unconscious Turks for the two men who had robbed him, but neither could be found. He was more successful later, for in running through the streets he came upon 173 THE MASTER KET 2l band of Tatars leading a man with a rope around his neck, whom Rob quickly recog- nized as one of the thieves he was hunt- ing for. The Tatars willingly allowed him to search the fellow, and in one of his pock- ets Rob found the Record of Events. He had now recovered all his property, except the traveling machine, the one thing that was absolutely necessary to enable him to escape from this barbarous country. He continued his search persistently, and an hour later found the dead body of the third robber lying in the square in the cen- ter of the city. But the traveling machine was not on his person, and for the first time \ the boy began to give way to despair. ' In the distance he heard loud shouts and { sound of renewed strife, warning him that ■ the Turks were recovering consciousness \ and engaging the Tatars with great fierce- I ness. The latter had scattered throughout the town, thinking themselves perfectly se- ' cure, so that not only were they unprepared 174 TURK AND TATAR to fight, but they became panic-stricken at seeing their foes return, as it seemed, from death to life. Their usual courage forsook them, and they ran, terrified, in every direc- tion, only to be cut down by the revengeful Turkish simitars. Rob was sitting upon the edge of a marble fountain in the center of the square when a crowd of victorious Turks appeared and quickly surrounded him. The boy paid no attention to their gestures and the Turks feared to approach him nearly, so they stood a short distance away and fired volleys at him from their rifles and pistols. Rob glared at them scornfully, and seeing they could not injure him the Turks desisted; but they still surrounded him, and the crowd grew thicker every moment. Women now came creeping from their hiding places and mingled with the ranks of the men, and Rob guessed, from their joyous chattering, that the Turks had re- gained the city and driven out or killed the I7S THE MASTER KEY Tatar warriors. He reflected, gloomily, that this did not affect his own position in any way, since he could not escape from the oasis. Suddenly, on glancing at the crowd, Rob saw something that arrested his attention. A young girl was fastening some article to the wrist of a burly, villainous-looking Turk. The boy saw a glitter that reminded him of the traveling machine, but immediately afterward the man and the girl bent their heads over the fellow's wrist in such a way that Rob could see nothing more. While the couple were apparently exam- ining the strange device, Rob started to his feet and walked toward them. The crowd fell back at his approach, but the man and the girl were so interested that they did not notice him. He was still several paces away when the girl put out her finger and touched the indicator on the dial. To Rob's horror and consternation the 176 rose ilowly into the air, with Rob clinging to him with desperate tenacity TURK AND TATAR big Turk began to rise slowly into the air, while a howl of fear burst from the crowd. But the boy made a mighty spring and caught the Turk by his foot, clinging to it with desperate tenacity, while they both mounted steadily upward until they were far above the city of the desert. The big Turk screamed pitifully at first, and then actually fainted away from fright. Rob was much frightened, on his part, for he knew if his hands slipped from their hold he would fall to his death. Indeed, one hand was slipping already, so he made a frantic clutch and caught firmly hold of the Turk's baggy trousers. Then, slowly and carefully, he drew himself up and seized the leather belt that encircled the man's waist. This firm grip gave him new confidence, and he began to breathe more freely. He now clung to the body of the Turk with both legs entwined, in the way he was accustomed to cling to a tree-trunk when 177 THE MA S TER KET he climbed after cherries at home. He had conquered his fear of falling, and took time to recover his wits and his strength. They had now reached such a tremendous height that the city looked like a speck on the desert beneath them. Knowing he must act quickly, Rob seized the dangling left arm of the unconscious Turk and raised it until he could reach the dial of the traveling machine. He feared to unclasp the machine just then, for two reasons: if it slipped from his grasp they would both plunge down- ward to their death; and he was not sure the machine would work at all if in any other position than fastened to the left wrist. Rob determined to take no chances, so he left the machine attached to the Turk and turned the indicator to zero and then to ''East," for he did not wish to rejoin either his enemies the Turks or his equally undesirable friends the Tatars. After traveling eastward a few minutes 178 TURK A ND TA TA R he lost sight of the city altogether; so, still clinging to the body of the Turk, he again turned the indicator and began to descend. When, at last, they landed gently upon a rocky eminence of the Kuen-Lun moun- tains, the boy's strength was almost ex- hausted, and his limbs ached with the strain of clinging to the Turk's body. His first act was to transfer the traveling machine to his own wrist and to see that his other electrical devices were safely be- stowed in his pockets. Then he sat upon the rock to rest until the Turk recovered consciousness. Presently the fellow moved uneasily, rolled over, and then sat up and stared at his surroundings. Perhaps he thought he had been .dreaming, for he rubbed his eyes ♦ and looked again with mingled surprise and alarm. Then, seeing Rob, he uttered a savage shout and drew his dagger. Rob smiled and pointed the electric tube 179 THE MA S TER KEY at the man, who doubtless recognized its power, for he fell back scowling and trem- bling. " This place seems like a good jog from civilization," remarked the boy, as coolly as if his companion could understand what he said; *^but as your legs are long and strong you may be able to find your way. It's true you're liable to starve to death, but if you do it will be your own misfortune and not my fault." The Turk glared at him sullenly, but did not attempt to reply. Rob took out his box of tablets, ate one of them and offered another to his enemy. The fellow accepted it ungraciously enough, but seeing Rob eat one he decided to follow his example, and consumed the tablet with a queer expression of distrust upon his face. ^^ Brave man!" cried Rob, laughingly; ''you've avoided the pangs of starvation for a time, anyhow, so I can leave you with a clear conscience." 1 80 TURK A ND TA TA R Without more ado he turned the indicator of the traveling machine and mounted into the air, leaving the Turk sitting upon the rocks and staring after him in comical be- wilderment. CHAPTER FIFTEEN A BATTLE WITH MONSTERS OUR young adventurer never experi- enced a more grateful feeling of re- lief and security than when he found himself once more high in the air, alone, and in un- disputed possession of the electrical devices bestowed upon him by the Demon. The dangers he had passed through since landing at the city of the desert and the des- perate chance that alone had permitted him to regain the traveling machine made him shudder at the bare recollection and ren- dered him more sober and thoughtful than usual. 182 A BA TTLE WITH MONSTERS We who stick closely to the earth's sur- face can scarcely realize how Rob ceuld travel through the air at such dizzy heights without any fear or concern whatsoever. But he had come to consider the air a veritable refuge. Experience had given him implicit confidence in the powers of the electrical in- strument whose unseen forces carried him so swiftly and surely, and while the tiny, watch-like machine was clasped to his wrist he felt himself to be absolutely safe. Having slipped away from the Turk and attained a fair altitude, he set the indicator at zero and paused long enough to consult his map and decide what direction it was best for him to take. The mischance that had swept him unwittingly over the coun- tries of Europe had also carried him more than half way around the world from his home. Therefore the nearest way to reach America would be to continue traveling to the eastward. So much time had been consumed at the xS3 THE MA S TER KB T desert oasis that he felt he must now hasten if he wished to reach home by Saturday afternoon; so, having quickly come to a decision, he turned the indicator and began a swift flight into the east. For several hours he traveled above the great desert of Gobi, but by noon signs of a more fertile country began to appear, and, dropping to a point nearer the earth, he was able to observe closely the country of the Chinese, with its crowded population and ancient but crude civilization. Then he came to the Great Wall of China and to might}^ Peking, above which he hov- ered some time, examining it curiously. He really longed to make a stop there, but with his late experiences fresh in his mind he thought it much safer to view the wonder- ful city from a distance. Resuming his flight he presently came to the gulf of Laou Tong, whose fair face was freckled with many ships of many nations, 184 /!' A BA TTLE WITH MONSTERS and so on to Korea, which seemed to him a land fully a century behind the times. Night overtook him while speeding across the Sea of Japan, and having a great desire to view the Mikado's famous islands, he put the indicator at zero, and, coming to a full stop, composed himself to sleep until morn- ing, that he might run no chances of being carried beyond his knowledge during the night. You might suppose it no easy task to sleep suspended in mid-air, yet the mag- netic currents controlled by the traveling machine were so evenly balanced that Rob was fully as comfortable as if reposing upon a bed of down. He had become somewhat accustomed to passing the night in the air and now slept remarkably well, having no fear of burglars or fire or other interrup- tions that dwellers in cities are subject to. One thing, however, he should have re- membered: that he was in an ancient and 185 THE MASTER KET little known part of the world and reposing above a sea famous in fable as the home of many fierce and terrible creatures; while not far away lay the land of the dragon, the simurg and other ferocious monsters. Rob ma)^ have read of these things in fair}' tales and books of travel, but if so they had entirely slipped his mind; so he slum- bered peacefully and actually snored a little, I believe, towards morning. But even as the red sun peeped curiously over the horizon he was awakened by a most unusual disturbance — a succession of hoarse screams and a pounding of the air as from the quickly revolving blades of some huge windmill. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. Coming towards him at his right hand was an immense bird, whose body seemed al- most as big as that of a horse. Its wide- open, curving beak was set with rows of pointed teeth, and the talons held against its breast and turned threateningly outward 1 86 A BA TtLE WITH MONSTERS were more powerful and dreadful than a tiger's claws. While, fascinated and horrified, he watched the approach of this feathered monster, a scream sounded just behind him and the next instant the stroke of a mighty wing sent him whirling over and over through the air. He soon came to a stop, however, and saw that another of the monsters had come upon him from the rear and was now, with its mate, circling closely around him, while both uttered continuously their hoarse, sav- age cries. Rob wondered why the Garment of Re- pulsion had not protected him from the blow of the bird's wing; but, as a matter of fact, it had protected him. For it was not the wing itself but the force of the eddying currents of air that had sent him whirling away from the monster. With the indi- cator at zero the magnetic currents and the opposing powers of attraction and repulsion 187 THE MASTER KEY were so evenly balanced that any violent at- mospheric disturbance affected him in the same way that thistledown is affected by a summer breeze. He had noticed some- thing of this before, but whenever a strong wind was blowing he was accustomed to rise to a position above the air currents. This was the first time he had slept with the indicator at zero. The huge birds at once renewed their at- tack, but Rob had now recovered his wits sufficiently to draw the electric tube from his pocket. The first one to dart towards him received the powerful electric current direct from the tube, and fell stunned and fluttering to the surface of the sea, where it floated motionless. Its mate, perhaps warned by this sudden disaster, renewed its circling flight, moving so swiftly that Rob could scarcely follow it, and drawing nearer and nearer every moment to its intended victim. The boy could not turn in the air i88 A BA TTLE WITH MONSTERS very quickly, and he feared an attack in the back, mistrusting the saving power of the Garment of Repulsion under such circum- stances; so in desperation he pressed his finger upon the button of the tube and whirled the instrument around his head in the opposite direction to that in which the monster was circling. Presently the cur- rent and the bird met, and with one last scream the creature tumbled downwards to join its fellow upon the waves, where the}^ lay like two floating islands. Their presence had left a rank, sickening stench in the surrounding atmosphere, so Rob made haste to resume his journey and was soon moving rapidly eastward. He could not control a shudder at the rec- ollection of his recent combat, and realized the horror of a meeting with such creatures by one who had no protection from their sharp beaks and talons. ^^ It's no wonder the Japs draw ugly 189 THE MASTER KEY pictures of those monsters," he thought. '' People who live in these parts must pass most of their lives in a tremble." The sun was now shining brilliantly, and when the beautiful islands of Japan came in sight Rob found that he had recovered his wonted cheerfulness. He moved along slowly, hovering with curious interest over the quaint and picturesque villages and watching the industrious Japanese patiently toiling at their tasks. Just before he reached Tokio he came to a military fort, and for nearly an hour watched the skilful maneu- vers of a regiment of soldiers at their morn- ing drill. They were not ver}^ big people, compared with other nations, but they seemed alert and well trained, and the boy decided it would require a brave enemy to face them on a field of battle. Having at length satisfied his curiosity as to Japanese life and customs Rob prepared for his long flight across the Pacific Ocean. By consulting his map he discovered that 190 A BATTLE WITH MONSTERS should he maintain his course due east, as before, he would arrive at a point in Amer- ica ver}' near to San Francisco, which suited his plans excellently. Having found that he moved more swiftly when farthest from the earth's surface, be- cause the air was more rarefied and offered less resistance, Rob mounted upwards until the islands of Japan were mere specks visi- ble through the clear, sunny atmosphere. Then he began his eastward flight, the broad surface of the Pacific seeming like a blue cloud far beneath him. CHAPTER SIXTEEN SHIPWRECKED MARINERS AMPLE proof of Rob's careless and restless nature having been frankij^ placed before the reader in these pages, you will doubtless be surprised when I relate that during the next few hours our young gentleman suffered from a severe attack of homesickness, becoming as gloomy and un- happy in its duration as ever a homesick boy could be. It may have been because he was just then cut off from all his fellow-creatures and even from the world itself; it may have been because he was satiated with marvels 192 SHIPWRECKED MARINERS and with the almost absolute control over the powers which the Demon had conferred upon him; or it may have been because he was born and reared a hearty, healthy American boy, with a disposition to battle openly with the world and take his chances equally with his fellows, rather than be placed in such an exclusive position that no one could hope successfully to oppose him. Perhaps he himself did not know what gave him this horrible attack of "the blues," but the truth is he took out his handkerchief and cried like a baby from very loneliness and misery. There was no one to see him, thank goodness 1 and the tears gave him consider- able relief. He dried his eyes, made an honest struggle to regain his cheerfulness, and then muttered to himself: "If I stay up here, like an air-bubble in the sky, I shall certainly go crazy. I sup- pose there's nothing but water to look at 193 THE MASTER KEY down below, but if I could only sight a ship, or even see a fish jump, it would do me no end of good." Theicupon he descended until, as the ocean's surface came nearer and nearer, he discovered a tiny island lying almost directly underneath him. It was hardly big enough to make a dot on the biggest map, but a clump of trees grew in the central portion, while around the edges were jagged rocks protecting a sandy beach and a stretch of flower-strewn upland leading to the trees. It looked very beautiful from Rob's ele- vated position, and his spirits brightened at once. ^^PU drop down and pick a bouquet," he exclaimed, and a few moments later his feet touched the firm earth of the island. But before he could gather a dozen of the brilliant flowers a glad shout reached his ears, and, looking up, he saw two men run- ning towards him from the trees. They were dressed in sailor fashion, but 194 SHIPWRECKED MAR TIMERS ■■ ■ ■■ I I ■! I III ■ I ■ ■ ^^^— ^^^^^^M^^^^— ■ I ^^ their clothing was reduced to rags and scarcely clung to their brown, skinny bod- ies. As they advanced they waved their arms wildly in the air and cried in joyful tones: ^^Aboatl a boat 1'' Rob stared at them wonderingly, and had much ado to prevent the poor fellows from hugging him outright, so great was their joy at his appearance. One of them rolled upon the ground, laughing and crying by turns, while the other danced and cut capers until he became so exhausted that he sank down breathless beside his comrade. " How came you here? '' then inquired the boy, in pitying tones. "We're shipwrecked American sailors from the bark ' Cynthia Jane,' which went down near here over a month ago," an- swered the smallest and thinnest of the two. '' We escaped by clinging to a bit of wreck- age and floated to this island, where we have nearly starved to death. Indeed, we 195 THE MASTER KEY now have eaten everj'thing on the island that was eatable, and had your boat arrived a few days later you'd have found us lying dead upon the beach! " Rob listened to this sad tale with real sympathy. '^ But I didn't come here in a boat," said he. The men sprang to their feet with white, scared faces. '^ No boat!" they cried; ^^ are you, too, shipwrecked?" *^ No;" he answered. ^*I flew here through the air." And then he explained to them the wonderful electric traveling machine. But the sailors had no interest whatever in the relation. Their disappointment was something awful to witness, and one of them laid his head upon his comrade's shoulder and wept with unrestrained grief, so weak and discouraged had they become through suffering. 196 The disappointment of the sailors awful to witness SHIPWRECKED MARrjsTERS Suddenly Rob remembered that he could assist them, and took the box of concen- trated food tablets from his pocket. ''Eat these," he said, offering one to each of the sailors. At first they could not understand that these small tablets would be able to allay the pangs of hunger; but when Rob ex- plained their virtues the men ate them greedily. Within a few moments they were so greatly restored to strength and courage that their eyes brightened, their sunken cheeks flushed, and they were able to con- verse with their benefactor with calmness and intelligence. Then the boy sat beside them upon the grass and told them the story of his ac- quaintance with the Demon and of all his adventures since he had come into posses- sion of the wonderful electric contrivances. In his present mood he felt it would be a relief to confide in some one, and so these 197 THE MASTER KEY poor, lonely men were the first to hear his story. When he related the manner in which he had clung to the Turk while both as- cended into the air, the elder of the two sailors listened with rapt attention, and then, after some thought, asked: ^^ Why couldn't you carry one or both of us to America?" Rob took time seriously to consider this idea, while the sailors eyed him with eager interest. Finally he said: ^^ Pm afraid I couldn't support your weight long enough to reach any other land. It's a long journey, and you'd pull my arms out of joint before we'd been up an hour." Their faces fell at this, but one of them said: '' Why couldn't we swing ourselves over your shoulders with a rope? Our two bodies would balance each other and we 198 SHIPWRECKED MARINERS are so thin and emaciated that we do not weigh very much." While considering this suggestion Rob remembered how at one time five pirates had clung to his left leg and been carried some distance through the air. ^^ Have 5^ou a rope ?" he asked. ^^ No," was the answer; ^* but there are plenty of long, tough vines growing on the island that are just as strong and pliable as ropes." ^^Then, if you are willing to run the chances," decided the boy, ^' I will make the attempt to save you. But I must warn you that in case I find I can not support the weight of your bodies I shall drop one or both of you into the sea." They looked grave at this prospect, but the biggest one said : ^'We would soon meet death from star\^a- tion if you left us here on the island; so, as there is at least a chance of our being able 199 THE Af ASTER KEY to escape in your company I, for one, am willing to risk being drowned. It is easier and quicker than being starved. And, as I'm the heavier, I suppose you'll drop me first." "Certainly," declared Rob, promptly. This announcement seemed to be an en- couragement to the little sailor, but he said, nervously : " I hope you'll keep near the water, for I haven't a good head for heights — 'they always make me dizzy." "Oh, if you don't want to go," began Rob, " I can easily " " But I do! I dol I do! " cried the little man, interrupting him. " I shall die if you leave me behind! " "Well, then, get your ropes, and we'll do the best we can," said the boy. They ran to the trees, around the trunks of which were clinging many tendrils of greenish-brown vine which possessed re- 200 SHIPWRECKED MARLVERS; markable strength. With their knives they cut a long section of this vine, the ends of which were then tied into loops large enough to permit the sailors to sit in them comfort- ably. The connecting piece Rob padded with seaweed gathered from the shore, to prevent its cutting into his shoulders. ^^Now, then," he said, when all was ready, ^^take your places." The sailors squatted in the loops, and Rob swung the vine over his shoulders and turned the indicator of the traveling machine to ^^up." As they slowly mounted into the sky the little sailor gave a squeal of terror and clung to the boy's arm; but the other, although seemingly anxious, sat quietly in his place and made no trouble. " D — d — don't g — g — go so high ! " stammered the little one, tremblingly; ^ ^sup- pose we should f^— f — fall! " ^^Well, s'pose we should?" answered 20I THE MASTER KEY Rob, gruffly. "You couldn't drown until you struck the water, so the higher we are the longer you'll live in case of accident." This phase of the question seemed to com- fort the frightened fellow somewhat ; but, as he said, he had not a good head for heights, and so continued to tremble in spite of his resolve to be brave. The weight on Rob's shoulders was not so great as he had feared, the traveling machine seeming to give a certain lightness and buoyancy to everything that came into contact with its wearer. As soon as he had reached a sufficient elevation to admit of good speed he turned the indicator once more to the east and be- gan moving rapidly through the air, the shipwrecked sailors dangling at either side. "This is aw — aw — awfull" gasped the little one. " Say, you shut up !" commanded the boy, angrily. " If your friend was as big a coward as you are I'd drop you both this 202 SHIPWRECKED MARINERS minute. Let go my arm and keep quiet, if you want to reach land alive." The fellow whimpered a little, but man- aged to remain silent for several minutes. Then he gave a sudden twitch and grabbed Rob's arm again. *^ S'pose — s'pose the vine should break!" he moaned, a horrified look upon his face. '' I've had about enough of this," said Rob, savagely. ** If you haven't any sense you don't deserve to live." He turned the indicator on the dial of the machine and they began to descend rapidly. The little fellow screamed with fear, but Rob paid no attention to him until the feet of the two suspended sailors were actually dipping into the waves, when he brought their progress to an abrupt halt. '^ Wh — wh — what are you g — g — going to do ?" gurgled the cowardly sailor. ^' I'm going to feed you to the sharks — unless you promise to keep your mouth 3hut^" retorted the boy. '' Now, then; de^* 203 THE MASTER KEY cide at once! Which will it be — sharks or silence?" " I won't say a word — 'pon my honor, I won't!" said the sailor, shudderingly. "All right; remember your promise and we'll have no further trouble," remarked Rob, who had hard work to keep from laughing at the man's abject terror. Once more he ascended and continued the journey, and for several hours they rode along swiftly and silently. Rob's shoulders were beginning to ache with the continued tugging of the vine upon them, but the thought that he was saving the lives of two unfortunate fellow-creatures gave him strength and courage to persevere. Night was falling when they first sighted land; a wild and seemingly uninhabited stretch of the American coast. Rob made no effort to select a landing place, for he was nearly worn out with the strain and anxiety of the journey. He dropped his burden upon the brow of a high bluff over- 204 SHIPWRECKED MARINERS looking the sea and, casting the vine from his shoulders, fell to the earth exhausted and half fainting. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN THE COAST OF OREGON WHEN he had somewhat recovered, Rob sat up and looked around him. The elder sailor was kneeling in earnest prayer, offering grateful thanks for his escape from suffering and death. The younger one lay upon the ground sobbing and still violently agitated by recollections of the frightful experiences he had under- gone. Although he did not show his feel- ings as plainly as the men, the boy was none the less gratified at having been instrumental in saving the lives of two fellow-beings. The darkness was by this time rapidly 206 THE COAST OF OREGON" enveloping them, so Rob asked his com- panions to gather some brushwood and light a fire, which they quickly did. The evening was cool for the time of year, and the heat from the fire was cheering and grateful; so they all lay near the glowing embers and fell fast asleep. The sound of voices aroused Rob next morning, and on opening his eyes and gaz- ing around he saw several rudely dressed men approaching. The two shipwrecked sailors were still sound asleep. Rob stood up and waited for the strangers to draw near. They seemed to be fishermen, and were much surprised at finding three people asleep upon the bluff. '^Whar 'n thunder 'd ye come from?" asked the foremost fisherman, in a surprised voice. *^ From the sea," replied the boy. ^^My friends here are shipwrecked sailors from the ^Cynthia Jane.' " " But how'd ye make out to climb the 207 THE MA S TER KET bluff?'' inquired a second fisherman; '^ no one ever did it afore, as we knows on." '* Oh, that is a long story," replied the boy, evasively. The two sailors had awakened and now saluted the new-comers. Soon they were exchanging a running fire of questions and answers. *^ Where are we ?" Rob heard the little sailor ask. '* Coast of Oregon," was the reply. ^^ We're about seven miles from Port Or- ford by land an' about ten miles by sea." ^^ Do you live at Port Orford?" inquired the sailor. '^ That's what we do, friend; an' if your party wants to join us we'll do our best to make you comf'table, bein' as you're ship- wrecked an' need help." Just then a loud laugh came from an- other group, where the elder sailor had been trying to explain Rob's method of flying through the air. 208 ( ( THE COAST OF OREGON " Laugh all you want to," said the sailor, sullenly; " it's true — ev'ry word of it 1" " Mebbe you think it, friend," answered a big, good-natured fisherman; " but it's well known that shipwrecked folks go crazy sometimes, an' imagine strange things. Your mind seems clear enough in other ways, so I advise you to try and forget your dreams about flyin'." Rob now stepped forward and shook hands with the sailors. I see you have found friends," he said to them, ^^ so I will leave you and continue my journey, as I'm in something of a hurry." Both sailors began to thank him profusely for their rescue, but he cut them short. " That's all right. Of course I couldn't leave you on that island to starve to death, and I'm glad I was able to bring you away with me." " But you threatened to drop me into the 209 a THE MA S TER KET i sea," remarked the little sailor, in a grieved ' voice, ^ ** So I did," said Rob, laughing; *^but j I wouldn't have done it for the world — not j even to have saved my own life. Good- \ by!" , He turned the indicator and mounted skyward, to the unbounded amazement of the fishermen, who stared after him with round eyes and wide open mouths. '* This sight will prove to them that the sailors are not crazy," he thought, as he turned to the south and sped away from the bluff. *^ I suppose those simple fishermen will never forget this wonderful occurrence, and they'll probably make reg'lar heroes of the two men who have crossed the Pacific through the air." He followed the coast line, keeping but a short distance above the earth, and after an hour's swift flight reached the city of San Francisco. His shoulders were sore and stiff from the 2IQ THE COAST OF OREGON heavy strain upon them of the previous day, and he wished more than once that he had some of his mother's household Hniment to rub them with. Yet so great was his de- light at reaching once more his native land that all discomforts were speedily forgotten. Much as he would have enjoyed a day in the great metropolis of the Pacific slope, Rob dared not delay longer than to take a general view of the place, to note its hand- some edifices and to wonder at the throng of Chinese inhabiting one section of the town. These things were much more plainly and quickly viewed by Rob from above than by threading a way through the streets on foot; for he looked down upon the city as a bird does, and covered miles with a single glance. Having satisfied his curiosity without-at- tempting to alight, he turned to the south- east and followed the peninsula as far as Palo Alto, where he viewed the magnificent buildings of the university. Changing his 211 THE MASTER KEY course to the east, he soon reached Mount Hamilton, and, being attracted by the great tower of the Lick Observatory^, he hovered over it until he found he had attracted the excited gaze of its inhabitants, who doubt- less observed him very plamly through the big telescope. But so unreal and seemingly impossible was the sight witnessed by the learned astronomers that they have never ventured to make the incident public, although long after the boy had darted away into the east they argued together concerning the marvel- ous and incomprehensible vision. After- ward they secretly engrossed the circum- stance upon their records, but resolved never to mention it in public, lest their wis- dom and veracity should be assailed by the skeptical. Meantime Rob rose to a higher altitude, and sped swiftly across the great continent. By noon he sighted Chicago, and after a brief inspection of the place from the air 212 ^41 ^--^ 1*^ THE COAST OF OREGOM determined to devote at least an hour to forming the acquaintance of this most won- derful and cosmopolitan city. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN A NARROW ESCAPE THE Auditorium Tower, where ^^the weather man" sits to flash his re- ports throughout the country, offered an inviting place for the boy to alight. He dropped quietly upon the roof of the great building and walked down the staircase until he reached the elevators, bv means of which he descended to the ground floor without exciting special attention. The eager rush and hurry of the people crowding the sidewalks impressed Rob with the idea that they were all behind time and were trying hard to catch up. He found 214 A NARROW ESCAPE it impossible to walk along comfortably without being elbowed and pushed from side to side; so a half hour's sight-seeing under such difficulties tired him greatly. It was a beautiful afternoon, and finding him- self upon the Lake Front, Rob hunted up a vacant bench and sat down to rest. Presently an elderly gentleman with a re- served and dignified appearance and dressed in black took a seat next to the boy and drew a magazine from his pocket. Rob saw that he opened it to an article on ^'The Progress of Modern Science," in which he seemed greatly interested. After a time the boy remembered that he was hungry, not having eaten a tablet in more than twenty-four hours. So he took out the silver box and ate one of the small, round disks it contained. ' ' What are those ? ' ' inquired the old gen- tleman in a soft voice. ^^You are too young to be taking patent medicines." ^* These are not medicines, exactly," an- 215 \ THE MASTER KE) swered the boy, with a smile. ^'They are Concentrated Food Tablets, stored with nourishment by means of electricity. One of them furnishes a person with food for an entire day." The old gentleman stared at Rob a mo- ment and then laid down his magazine and took the box in his hands, examining the tablets curiously. ^^Are these patented?" he asked. ^^ No," said Rob; '' they are unknown to any one but myself." *' I will give you a half million dollars for the recipe to make them," said the gen- tleman. ^^ I fear I must refuse your offer," re- turned Rob, with a laugh. ^^ I'll make it a million," said the gentle- man, coolly. Rob shook his head. ^^ Money can't buy the recipe," he said; ^' for I don't know it myself." 216 A NARROW ESCAPE "Couldn't the tablets be chemicallv an- al3^zed5 and the secret discovered?" in- quired the other. ^' I don't know; but Pm not going to give any one the chance to try," declared the boy, firmly. The old gentleman picked up his maga- zine without another word, and resumed his reading. For amusement Rob took the Record of Events from his pocket and began looking at the scenes reflected from its polished plate. Presently he became aware that the old gentleman was peering over his shoulder with intense interest. General Funston was just then engaged in capturing the rebel chief, Aguinaldo, and for a few mo- ments both man and boy observed the oc- currence with rapt attention. As the scene was replaced by one showing a secret tun- nel of the Russian Nihilists, with the con- 217 v' I « THE MA S TER KEY spirators carrying dynamite to a recess underneath the palace of the Czar, the gen- tleman uttered a long sig^h and asked: '' Will you sell that box?" ^^ No," answered Rob, shortly, and put it back into his pocket. ** I'll give you a million dollars to con- trol the sale in Chicago alone," continued the gentleman, with an eager inflection in his smooth voice. *' You seem quite anxious to get rid of money," remarked Rob, carelessly. ^^How much are you worth .'^" '^ Personally?" ^^Yes." ^' Nothing at all, young man. I am not offering you my own money. But with such inventions as you have exhibited I could easily secure millions of capital. Sup- pose we form a trust, and place them upon the market. We'll capitalize it for a hun- dred millions, and you can have a quarter of the stock — twenty-five millions. That 218 A NA RR O W ES CA PE would keep you from worrying about groc- ery bills." ^^ But I wouldn't need groceries if I had the tablets," said Rob, laughing. ^^ True enough! But you could take life easily and read your newspaper in comfort, without being in any hurry to get down town to business. Twenty-five millions would bring you a cozy little income, if properly invested." '' I don't see why one should read news- papers when the Record of Events shows all that is going on in the world," objected Rob. *' True, true! But what do you say to the proposition?" '^ I must decline, with thanks. These inventions are not for sale." The gentleman sighed and resumed his magazine, in which he became much ab- sorbed. Rob put on the Character Marking Spec- tacles and looked at him. The letters ''E," 219 rilE MASTER KET ^'W'" and ^'C" were plainly visible upon the composed, respectable looking brow of his companion. ^^ Evil, wise and cruel," reflected Rob, as he restored the spectacles to his pocket. *^ How easily such a man could impose upon people. To look at him one would think that butter wouldn't melt in his mouth!" lie decided to part company with this chance acquaintance and, rising from his seat, strolled leisurely up the walk. A moment later, on looking back, he discov- ered that the old gentleman had disap- peared. He walked down State Street to the river and back again, amused by the activity displayed in this busy section of the city. But the time he had allowed himself in Chi- cago had now expired, so he began looking around for some high building from the roof of which he could depart unnoticed. This was not at all difficult, and selecting 220 _1£- A NARROW ESCAPE one of jnany stores he ascended b}^ an elevator to the top floor and from there mounted an iron stairway leading to the flat roof. As he climbed this stairway he found himself followed by a pleasant looking young man, who also seemed desirous of viewing the city from the roof. Annoyed at the inopportune intrusion, Rob's first thought was to go back to the street and try another building; but, upon reflecting that the young man was not likely to remain long and he would soon be alone, he decided to wait. So he walked to the edge of the roof and appeared to be inter- ested in the scenery spread out below him. '' Fme view from here, ain't it?" said the young man, coming up to him and placing his hand carelessly upon the boy's shoulder. " It is, indeed," replied Rob, leaning over the edge to look into the street. As he spoke he felt himself gently but firmly pushed from behind and, losing his 221 THE MA S TER KE T balance, he plunged headforemost from the roof and whirled through the interv^ening space toward the sidewalk far below. Terrified though he was by the sudden disaster, the boy had still wit enough re- maining to reach out his right hand and move the indicator of the machine upon his left wrist to the zero mark. Immediatel}- he paused in his fearful flight and presently came to a stop at a distance of less than fif- teen feet from the flagstones which had threatened to crush out his life. As he stared downward, trying to recover his self-possession, he saw the old gentle- man he had met on the Lake Front stand- ing just below and looking at him with a half frightened, half curious expression in his eyes. At once Rob saw through the whole plot to kill him and thus secure possession of his electrical devices. The young man upon the roof who had attempted to push him to his death was a confederate of the innocent ZZ'i •^^^AaS^ A NARROW ESCAPE appearing old gentleman, it seemed, and the latter had calmly awaited his fall to the pavement to seize the coveted treasures from his dead body. It was an awful idea, and Rob was more frightened than he had ever been before in his life— or ever has been since. But now the shouts of a vast concourse of * amazed spectators reached the boy's ears. He remembered that he was suspended in mid-air over the crowded street of a great city, while thousands of wondering eyes were fixed upon him. So he quickly set the indicator to the word ^^up," an'd mounted sky-ward until the watchers below could scarcely see him. Then he fled away into the east, even yet shuddering with the horror of his recent escape from death and filled with disgust at the knowledge that there were people who held human life so lightly that they were willing to destroy it to further their own selfish ends. 223 THE MASTER KEY K '*And the Demon wants such people as these to possess his electrical devices, which are as powerful to accomplish evil when in wrong hands as they are good! " thought the boy, resentfully. *^This would be a fine world if Electric Tubes and Records of Events and Traveling Machines could be acquired by selfish and unprincipled per- sons! " So unnerved was Rob by his recent ex- periences that he determined to make no more stops. However, he alighted at nightfall in the country, and slept upon the sweet hay in a farmer's barn. But, early the next morning, before an}' one else was astir, he resumed his journey, and at precisely ten o'clock of this day, which was Saturday, he completed his flying trip around the world by alighting unob- served upon the well-trimmed lawn of his own home. CHA PTER NINE TEEN ROB MAKES A RESOLUTION WHEN Rob opened the front door he came face to face with Nell, who gave an exclamation of joy and threw herself into his arms. "Oh, Rob 1" she cried, "I'm so glad you've come. We have all been dreadfully worried about you, and mother — " "Well, what about mother.'" inquired the boy, anxiously, as she paused. " She's been very ill, Rob; and the doc- tor said to-day that unless we heard from you soon he would not be able to save her 235 THE MASTER KET life. The uncertainty about vou is killing her/" Rob stood stock still, all the eager joy of his return frozen into horror at the thouj^^lit that he had caused his dear mother so much sufferint^. •* Where is she, Xell?"' he asked, brok- enly. *" In her room. Come; I'll take you to her." Rob followed with beating heart, and soon was clasped close to his mother''s breast. *' Oh, my boy — my dear boy!" she mur- mured, and then for very jo}' and love she was unable to sav more, but held him ti«:ht and stroked his hair gently and kissed hiin again and again. Rob said little, except to promise that he would never again leave home without her full consent and knowleds^e. But in his mind he contrasted the love and comfort that now surrounded him with the lonely 226 ROB MAKES A RESOLUTION and unnatural life he had been leading and, boy though he was in years, a mighty reso- lution that would have been creditable to an experienced man took firm root in his heart. He was obliged to lecount all his adven- tures to his mother and, although he made light of the dangers he had passed through, the story drew many sighs and shudders from her. When luncheon time arrived he met his father, and Mr. Joslyn took occasion to re- prove his son in strong language for run- ning away from home and leaving them filled with anxiety as to his fate. How- ever, when he saw how happy and im- proved in health his dear wife was at her boy's return, and when he had listened to Rob's manly confession of error and ex- pressions of repentance, he speedily forgave the culprit and treated him as genially as ever. Of course the whole story had to be re- 227 |x?ated, his sisters listening this time with open eyes and ears and admiring their ad- venturous brother immensely. Even Mr. Joslyn could not help becoming profoundly interested, but he took care not to show any pride he might feel in his son's achieve- ments. When his father returned to his office Rob went to his own bed-chamber and sat for a long time by the window in deep thought. When at last he aroused himself, he found it was nearly four o'clock. **The Demon will be here presently," he said, with a thrill of aversion, ^^and I must be in the workshop to receive him." Silently he stole to the foot of the attic stairs and then paused to listen. The house seemed very quiet, but he could hear his mother's voice softly humming a cradle- song that she had sung to him when he was a baby. He had been nervous and unsettled and a little fearful until then, but perhaps the 228 \ THE MASTER KET I ROn MAKES A RESOLCriON s.ouncl of his mother's voice gave him cour- age, for he b'blcllv aHcend^d the stairs and entered the workshop, closing and locking the door behind him. CHAPTER TWENTT THE UNHAPPY FATE OF THE DEMON AGAIN the atmosphere quickened and pulsed with accumulating vibrations. Again the boy found himself aroused to eager expectancy. There was a whirl in the air; a crackling like distant musketry; a flash of dazzling light — and the Demon stood before him for the third time. '' I give you greetings!'' said he, in a voice not unkindly. ^^Good afternoon, Mr. Demon," an- swered the boy, bowing gravely. '' I see you have returned safely from your trip," continued the Apparition, cheer- 230 UNHAPPY FA TE OF THE DEAfOA fully, ^^although at one time I thought you would be unable to escape. Indeed, unless I had knocked that tube from the rascally Turk's hand as he clambered to the top of the wall, I believe 3^ou would have been at the Yarkand oasis yet — either dead or alive, as chance might determine." '' Were you there? " asked Rob. " To be sure. And I recovered the tube for you, without which you would have been helpless. But that is the only time I saw fit to interfere in any way." *^ I'm afraid I did not get a chance to give many hints to inventors or scientists," said Rob. " True, and I have deeply regretted it," replied the Demon. " But your unusual powers caused more astonishment and con- sternation than you, perhaps, imagined; for many saw you whom you were too busy to notice. As a result several able electri- cians are now thinking new thoughts along new Imes, and some of them may soon 231 THE MASTER KEI give these or similar inventions to the world.'' ^^ You are satisfied, then?" asked Rob. ^^As to that," returned the Demon, com- posedly, '' I am not. But I have hopes that with the addition of the three marvel- ous devices I shall present you with to-day you will succeed in arousing so much popu- lar interest in electrical inventions as to render me wholly satisfied with the result of this experiment." Rob regarded the brilliant apparition with a solemn face, but made no answer. " No living person," continued the De- mon, " has ever before been favored with such comforting devices for the presei'vation and extension of human life as yourself. You seem quite un appreciative, it is true; but since our connection I have come to realize that you are but an ordinary boy, with many boyish limitations; so I do not condemn your foolish actions too harshly." 232 ■aop UN HA PPT FA TE OF THE DEMO 7^ '' That is kind of you," said Rob. '^ To prove my friendliness," pursued the Demon, " I have brought, as the first of to-day's offerings, this Electro-Magnetic Restorer. You see it is shaped like a thin metal band, and is to be worn upon the brow, clasping at the back of the head. Its virtues surpass those of either the fabu- lous 'Fountain of Youth,' or the 'Elixir of Life,' so vainly sought for in past ages. For its wearer will instantly become free from any bodily disease or pain and will enjoy perfect health and vigor. In truth, so great are its powers that even the dead may be restored to life, provided the blood has not yet chilled. In presenting 3'ou with this appliance, I feel I am bestowing upon you the greatest blessing and most longed- for boon ever bequeathed to suffering hu- manity." Here he held the slender, dull-colored metallic band toward the boy. 233 THE MASTER KEl *^ Keep it," said Rob. The Demon started, and gave him an odd look. ^* What did you say?" he asked. ^' I told you to keep it," answered Rob. " I don't want it." The Demon staggered back as if he had been struck. '' Don't want it!" he gasped. ** No; I've had enough of your infernal inventions!" cried the boy, with sudden anger. lie unclasped the traveling machine from his wrist and laid it on the table beside the Demon. '^ There's the thing that's responsible for most of my troubles," said he, bitterly. '' What right has one person to fly through the air while all his fellow-creatures crawl over the earth's surface? And why should I be cut off from all the rest of the world because you have given me this confounded traveling machine? I didn't ask for it, and 234 UNHAPPT FA TE OF THE DEMON I won't keep it a moment longer. Give it to some one you hate more than you do me! " The Demon stared aghast and turned his glittering eyes wonderingly from Rob to the traveling machine and back again, as if to be sure he had heard and seen aright. ^^And here are your food tablets," con- tinued the boy, placing the box upon the table. '^ I've only enjoyed one square meal since you gave them to me. They're all right to preserve life, of course, and answer the purpose for which they were made; but I don't believe nature ever intended us to exist upon such things, or we wouldn't have the sense of taste, which enables us to enjoy natural food. As long as I'm a human being I'm going to eat like a human being, so I've consumed my last Electrical Con- centrated Food Tablet — and don't you for- get it!" The Demon sank into a chair, nerveless and limp, but still staring fearfully at the boy. 235 THE MASTER KEY *^And there's another of your unnatural devices,'' said Rob, putting the Automatic Record of Events upon the table beside the other things. '^What right have you to capture vibrations that radiate from private and secret actions and discover them to others who have no business to know them? This would be a fine world if every body could peep into every one else's affairs, wouldn't it? And here is your Character Marker. Nice thing for a decent person to own, isn't it? Any one who would take ad- vantage of such a sneakmg invention as that would be worse than a thief! Oh, I've used them, of course, and I ought to be spanked for having been so mean and underhanded; but I'll never be guilty of looking through them again." The Demon's face was frowning and indignant. lie made a motion to rise, but thought better of it and sank back in his chair. ^}^ UNHAPPY FATE OF THE DEMON *^As for the Garment of Protection," re- sumed the boy, after a pause, " I've worn it for the last time, and here it is, at your service. I'll put the Electric Tube with it. Not that these are such very bad things in themselves, but I'll have none of your mag- ical contrivances. I'll say this, however: if all armies were equipped with Electrical Tubes instead of guns and swords the world would be spared a lot of miser}' and un- necessary bloodshed. Perhaps they will be, in time; but that time hasn't arrived yet." " You might have hastened it," said the Demon, sternly, '' if j^ou had been wise enough to use your powers properly." '^ That's just it," answered Rob. ^^I'm not wise enough. Nor is the majority of mankind wise enough to use such inven- tions as yours unselfishly and for the good of the world. If people were better, and every one had an equal show, it would be different." \i 237 THE MASTER KEl For some moments the Demon sat quietly thinkinf;. Finally the frown left his face , and he said, with animation: " I have other inventions, which you may use without any such qualms of conscience. The Electro-Magnetic Restorer I offered you would be a great boon to your race, and could not possibly do harm. And, be- sides this, I have brought you what I call the Illimitable Communicator. It is a sim- ple electric device which will enable you, wherever you may be, to converse with people in any part of the world, without the use of such crude connections as wires. In fact, you may" — " Stop! " cried Rob. ^' It is useless for you to describe it, because I'll have nothing more to do with you or your inventions. I have given them a fair trial, and they've got me into all sorts of trouble and made all mj' friends miserable. If I was some high-up scientist it woulc^ be different; but Pm just 238 UNHAPPr FA TE OF THE DEMON a common boy, and I don't want to be any- thing else." '^ But, your duty — " began the Demon. ^^My duty I owe to myself and to my family," interrupted Rob. '^ I have never cultivated scien^jfe, more than to fool with some simple electrical experiments, so I owe nothing to ftith^r science or the Demon of Electricity, so far as I can see." ^' But consider," remonstrated the De- mon, rising to his feet and speaking in a pleading voice, " consider the years that must elapse before any one else is likely to strike the Master Key! And, in the mean- while, consider my helpless position, cut off from all interest in the world while I have such wonderful inventions on my hands for the benefit of mankind. If you have no love for science or for the advance- ment of civilization, do have some consider- ation for your fellow-creatures, and for me!" 239 THE MASTER KEY *' If my fellow-creatures would have as much trouble with your electrical inventions as I had, I am doing them a service by de- priving them of your devices." said the boy. '*As for yourself, I've no fault to find with you, personally. You'' re a verj- de- cent sort of Demon, and I've no doubt you mean well; but there's something wrong about our present combination, I'm sure. It isn't natural." The Demon made a gesture of despair. '' Why, oh why did not some intelligent person strike the Master Key!" he moaned. ^'That's it!" exclaimed Rob. '^ I be- lieve that's the root of the whole evil." ^' What is ?" inquired the Demon, stu- pidly. '' The fact that an intelligent person did not strike the Master Key. You don't seem to understand. Well, I'll explain. You're the Demon of Electricity, aren't you?" " I am," said the other, drawing him- self up proudly, ^40 UN HA PPT FA TE OF THE DEMON " Your mission is to obey the commands of whoever is able to strike the Master Key of Electricity." " That is true.'' ^^ I once read in a book that all things are regulated by exact laws of nature. If that is so you probably owe your existence to those laws." The Demon nodded. " Doubtless it was intended that when mankind became intelligent enough and ad- vanced enough to strike the Master Key, you and all your devices would not only be necessary and acceptable to them, but the world would be prepared for their general use. That seems reasonable, doesn't it? " " Perhaps so. Yes; it seems reason- able," answered the Demon, thoughtfully. '^Accidents are always liable to happen," continued the boy. '^By accident the Master Key was struck long before the world of science was ready for it — or for you. In- stead of considering it an accident and pay- ing no attention to it you immediately ap- 241 THE MASTER KEY peared to mc — a mere boy — and offered your services." ^'I was very anxious to do something," returned the Demon, evasively. ''You've no idea how stupid it is for me to live in- visible and unknown, while all the time I have in my possession secrets of untold benefit to the world." " Well, you'll have to keep cool and bide your time," said Rob. "The world wasn't made in a minute, and while civilization is going on at a pretty good pace, we're not up to the Demon of Electricity yet." "What shall I do! " groaned the Appari- tion, wringing his hands miserably; "oh, what shall I do! " " Go home and lie down," replied Rob, sympathetically. "Take it easy and don't get rattled. Nothing was ever created with- out a use, they say; so your turn will come some day, sure! I'm sorry for you, old fel- low, but it's all your own fault." "You are right! " exclaimed the Demon ^ 242 UNITAPPTFA TE OF THE DEMON striding up and down the room, and caus- ing thereby such a crackling of electricity in the air that Rob's hair became rigid enough to stand on end. "You are right, and I must wait — wait — wait — patiently and si- lently — until my bonds are loosed by intel- ligence rather than chance! It is a drearj^ fate. But I must wait — I must wait — I must wait!" " I'm glad j^ou'vecome to your senses," remarked Rob, drily. "So, if you've noth- ing more to say — " " No! I have nothing more to say. There is nothing more to say. You and I are two. We should never have met!" re- torted the Demon, showing great excite- ment. " Oh, I didn't seek your acquaintance," said Rob. " But I've tried to treat you de- cently, and I've no fault to find with you except that you forgot you were a slave and tried to be a master." The Demon did not reply. He was bus- 243 1 I THE MA S TER KET ily forcing the various electrical devices that Rob had relinquished into the pockets of his fiery jacket. Finally he turned with an abrupt move- ment. ^^Good-by!" he cried. ^^ When mortal eyes next behold me they will be those of one fit to command my services! As for you, your days will be passed in obscurity and your name be unknown to fame. Grood- by, — forever!" The room filled with a flash of white light so like a sheet of lightning that the boy went reeling backwards, half stunned and blinded by its dazzling intensity. When he recovered himself the Demon of Electricity had disappeared. ***** Rob's heart was very light as he left the f workshop and made his way down the attic \ stairs. '' Some people might think I was a fool to give up those electrical inventions," he re- 244 \ \ UNHAPPY FA TE OF THE DEMON fleeted; "but I'm one of those persons who know when they've had enough. It strikes me the fool is the fellow who can't learn a lesson. I've learned mine, all ri«;ht. It's no fun being a century ahead of the timesi" < • c^. erne Bookbinding Co., Inc. 300 Summer Street Boston, Mass. 02210 3 2044 019 412 584 The borrower must return this item on or before the last date stamped below. If another user places a recall for this item, the borrower will be notified of the need ifor an earlier return. Non-receipt of overdue notices does not exempt the borrower from overdue fines. Harvard College Widener Library Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-2413 Please handle with care. Thank you for helping to preserve library collections at Harvard.